"It's a matter of time just to be you know, try to act normal again. Try to act like everything's fine, but like everything's not," said Jayden Sands, a student at Lewiston High School.Helping them ease back into their routines, three therapy dogs and a"Lewiston Strong" banner for students to sign.
And as police try to piece together what led up to the mass shooting we're learning more about the warning signs brought to authorities' attention months before the massacre. In May, the suspect's family reached out to police about his declining mental health and access to firearms. Two months later, in July, the shooter traveled to New York with his Army Reserve unit and was sent to the hospital. Weeks later, he went home but the Army determined he should not have a weapon, handle ammunition or participate in live-fire activity.
Concerned about his mental state, his Army Reserve unit requested a wellness check in September. Sheriff's deputies were warned he could be armed and dangerous but both times they visited, no one was home. "I think that determining and understanding all the facts surrounding this event is crucial. All of the facts. The Maine State Police is, as I said, undergoing a thorough investigation of every aspect of the case," said Maine Governer Janet Mills.