Two men from Sabattus who confronted the gunman during the Lewiston mass shooting are being recognized posthumously for “extraordinary heroism.”
Jason Walker and Michael Deslauriers II, both 51 years old at the time, were awarded the Carnegie Medal for Heroism on Monday.
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission awards the medal to civilians in the U.S. and Canada who risk their lives attempting to save others.
A release from the foundation details how Walker and Deslauriers died while trying to stop gunman Robert Card, who opened fire inside Just-In-Time Recreation, a bowling alley in Lewiston where about 60 people, including 20 children, had gathered.
Both men ran toward Card after his gun jammed about a second after the initial shooting. Card was able to recover and shot and killed both men who made an effort to stop him before he moved on kill five more people and wound three others inside the bowling alley.
“Walker leapt into the air in an attempt to kick the gun away, but the assailant managed to clear the jam and shot him in the left knee,'” said the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission description of the incident. “He fell to the floor and Deslauriers ran past his friend to rush the assailant with his arms outstretched in an attempt to grab him or the gun. The assailant retreated backwards before he shot Deslauriers twice in the torso. He then moved back toward Walker and shot him three more times, including once fatally in the head.”
Eighteen people were killed and 13 were wounded at the bowling alley and at Schemengees Bar and Grille nearby in October of 2023.
Card was found dead by suicide after a two-day manhunt.
Walker and Deslauriers received the award Monday along with 16 other people. Each of the recipients or their survivors receive a financial grant for scholarship aid, death benefits, and continuing assistance.
