Bob Violette: Grandpa who loved bowling was killed in Maine shooting, family says

Family members have identified a 76-year-old as one of the 18 people killed after a string of shootings in Maine on Wednesday.

Bob Violette, a retiree and avid bowler, was at the Just-In-Recreation bowling alley when he was shot and killed, his daughter-in-law said.

She said he died protecting a group of children that he was with at the alley.

Mr Violette leaves behind three sons and six grandchildren.

He appears to be the first publicly identified victim of the deadliest mass shooting in the US this year.

His wife, Lucy, was injured in the attack.

Cassandra, his daughter-in-law, confirmed his death to the Lewiston Sun Journal.

She described Mr Violette as a life-long Lewiston resident who had deep ties to the community, and who made people around him feel cared for.

"He wouldn't let you walk out the door without giving him a hug, and a kiss on the cheek. He was just there for everything," she said.

A former Sears mechanic, Mr Violette devoted his time to bowling in his retirement.

He began running a youth bowling league many years ago, his daughter-in-law said, and even got his eldest grandsons to participate in the game.

He saved up to buy new iPads and iPhones to get good videos of them bowling, Cassandra said.

"He loved those kids, all of them," she said.

Police were still searching for the suspected gunman as of Thursday afternoon.

Officials said they were still working to identify the deceased victims, and have only confirmed the names of eight so far out of 18.

More than a dozen others were injured in the shooting on Wednesday night, police said.