LEWISTON, MAINE: Sign language interpreter Regan Thibodeau, who was a signing at the media briefings held by Maine authorities about the shooter, Robert Card, to make the news accessible for deaf people, revealed that she lost her close friend Joshua Seal, an ASL interpreter, in the tragic incident.
Seal was one of the four people from the deaf community to be killed during a cornhole tournament at the Schemengees Bar and Grille in Lewiston, Maine, on October 25. The suspect, Card, 40, is said to have opened fire at the people in the bar with an AR-15-style weapon.
During his rampage at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston, he killed 18 people and injured 13 others.
After a two-day search, Card was found dead around 7.45 pm on Friday, October 27 in the woods near the Androscoggin River in the Lisbon Falls area, as reported by CNN. He is said to have died of self-inflicted gun wounds.
Regan Thibodeau contributes extensively to the fields of sign language and interpretation
Regan Thibodeau, 44, a native of Maine, worked with the victim, Joshua Seal, as a sign language interpreter.
She is a PhD holder and currently works as an ASL Professor and Interpreter at the University of Southern Maine.
According to Thibodeau's profile on the University of Maine website, she has extensive experience in the field of sign language, which includes working as a freelance Deaf Interpreter for 19 years in different geographic locations, along with teaching ASL for 22 years at various school districts and colleges.
She travels nationally and internationally to educate people and to "improve standards in the fields of Sign Language and Interpreting."
Thibodeau is expected to be a part of media briefings on October 28, where the authorities are expected to give further details about the suspect's final moments.
Regan Thibodeau's commitment to the deaf community
After leading the signing at a press conference that announced Robert Card's death, Regan Thibodeau exclusively told Daily Mail about her connection with Joshua Seal.
She stated, "I was born and raised here in Maine. My colleague was actually murdered, Joshua Seal. He actually would have been the person here working with me. And because he's gone, I'm here working alone. So he was one of the people that we lost."
For Thibodeau, the deaf community is her home, and they must have access to communication about the mass shooter.
"So this service is really in honor and memoriam to Joshua. And all the deaf people we lost," said the sign language interpreter, adding, "I'm not taking time to process this personally myself. I am just focusing on providing the communication access."
The shooting at Schemengees Bar has been a grave loss to the deaf community of Lewiston as the suspect opened fire when members of the American Deaf Cornhole were having a tournament.
