IN THAT LISBON AREA AND THAT SEARCH AREA. AND WE ARE ALSO TODAY HEARING FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE SHOOTING VICTIMS STILL IN THE HOSPITAL. CENTRAL MAINE MEDICAL CENTER GAVE US AN UPDATE AT NOON TODAY SAYING THEY ARE TREATING SIX PATIENTS FROM THE SHOOTING. AND WHAT WE LEARNED, THREE ARE IN CRITICAL CONDITION, THREE OTHERS ARE STABLE AS OF THIS AFTERNOON. MAINE JIM KEITHLEY LIVE OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL IN LEWISTON. AND JIM, I KNOW YOU’RE SPEAKING WITH RELATIVES OF BEN DYER. WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO SAY. SO BEN DYER IS 47 YEARS OLD. HE’S FROM AUBURN. HE’S AMONG THOSE SHOOTING VICTIMS BEING TREATED HERE AT CMMC. HE WAS BROUGHT IN HERE IN CRITICAL CONDITION. HE’S BEEN ON A VENTILATOR FOR TWO, TWO DAYS. TODAY, HIS FAMILY SAYS HE IS BREATHING ON HIS OWN AND STABLE. HE WAS AMONG THOSE TAKING PART IN A CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT WEDNESDAY AT SCHMICK’S BAR AND GRILL WHEN A GUNMAN OPENED FIRE. DYER WAS SHOT AND SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES. HIS SISTER. AND HIS GIRLFRIEND HAVE NOT QUESTIONED HIM ABOUT WHAT HE SAW OR WHAT HAPPENED, BUT THEY WERE THERE. THIS NOON WHEN THE VENTILATOR WAS REMOVED. I ASKED HIM JUST TO SMILE AT ME, AND HE DID. AND HIS FIRST WORDS TO US WAS, I JUST WANT TO LIVE. HE’S ALIVE. AND IT’S IT’S PROBABLY THE SCARIEST THING I’VE EVER BEEN THROUGH BECAUSE HE’S IS MY PERSON. AND THE THOUGHT OF LOSING HIM. I’M GRATEFUL. I’M SAD. I’M VERY, VERY SAD BECAUSE HE’S GOT A VERY LONG ROAD AHEAD OF HIM. BUT I’M SO GRATEFUL HE’S STILL HERE. AND I’M GOING TO I’M GOING TO WALK THAT ROAD WITH HIM. NOW, DYER HAS TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AT HOME. WE’RE TOLD THE FAMILY IS WORRIED ABOUT THE FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS. SO THEY’VE LAUNCHED A GOFUNDME TO HELP RAISE MONEY SO THEY CAN PUT THAT WORRY OUT OF THEIR MINDS. AND SO FAR, THEY’VE RAISED MORE THAN $70,000. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE MORE ON THAT COMING UP AT 5:00. BUT FOR NOW, AGAIN, VICTIMS STILL RE
‘I just want to live’: Father of 2 wounded in Maine mass shooting is slowly recovering
Updated: 5:34 PM EDT Oct 28, 2023
A father of two shot Wednesday night inside of a bar in Lewiston, Maine, is slowly recovering and breathing on his own. Ben Dyer, 47, is among the victims being treated at Central Maine Medical Center. He was listed in critical condition and on a ventilator. But on Friday morning, his family says he’s breathing on his own and is stable. Dyer was among those taking part in a cornhole tournament Wednesday at Schemengees Bar when a gunman opened fire. Dyer was shot and sustained multiple injuries. The shootings took place at Just-In-Time Recreation Bowling Alley and Schemengees Bar in Lewiston. Eighteen people were killed — seven at the bowling alley, eight people at Schemengees Bar and three others who died in transit to the hospital, according to authorities.Thirteen others — including Dyer — were injured. Family and friends have not asked him about the traumatic experience that night. But they were with him Friday afternoon when the ventilator was removed. “I asked him just to smile at me, and he did, and his first words to us were, ‘I just want to live,’” said Emily Braley, Dyer’s sister. “He’s alive and it’s probably the most scary thing I’ve ever been through because he’s my person and the thought of losing him … I’m grateful,” said Keela Smith, Dyer’s girlfriend. “I’m sad. I’m very, very sad because he has a very long road ahead of him, but I’m so grateful he’s still here, and I’m going to walk that road with him.” Dyer has two young children, his family said, and they’re worried about financial obligations. They set up a GoFundMe account, which has already raised more than $70,000.
A father of two shot Wednesday night inside of a bar in Lewiston, Maine, is slowly recovering and breathing on his own.
Ben Dyer, 47, is among the victims being treated at Central Maine Medical Center.
He was listed in critical condition and on a ventilator. But on Friday morning, his family says he’s breathing on his own and is stable.
Dyer was among those taking part in a cornhole tournament Wednesday at Schemengees Bar when a gunman opened fire. Dyer was shot and sustained multiple injuries.
The shootings took place at Just-In-Time Recreation Bowling Alley and Schemengees Bar in Lewiston. Eighteen people were killed — seven at the bowling alley, eight people at Schemengees Bar and three others who died in transit to the hospital, according to authorities.
Thirteen others — including Dyer — were injured.
Family and friends have not asked him about the traumatic experience that night. But they were with him Friday afternoon when the ventilator was removed.
“I asked him just to smile at me, and he did, and his first words to us were, ‘I just want to live,’” said Emily Braley, Dyer’s sister.
“He’s alive and it’s probably the most scary thing I’ve ever been through because he’s my person and the thought of losing him … I’m grateful,” said Keela Smith, Dyer’s girlfriend. “I’m sad. I’m very, very sad because he has a very long road ahead of him, but I’m so grateful he’s still here, and I’m going to walk that road with him.”
Dyer has two young children, his family said, and they’re worried about financial obligations. They set up a GoFundMe account, which has already raised more than $70,000.
