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Nov. 3 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden traveled to Lewiston, Maine, Friday to console the community after 18 people were killed in a mass shooting last week. At about 2:30 p.m., as reported by The Portland Press Herald, Air Force One touched down at Brunswick Executive Airport. Upon his arrival, the president was warmly greeted by U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King, and Rep. Chellie Pingree.
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Subsequently, all of them boarded helicopters for their journey to Lewiston to meet with relatives of those who were killed, as well as community members who survived the Oct. 25 shootings.
The president and the first lady paid their respects at a memorial located outside Schemengees Bar & Grille, one of the places targeted by the shooter. They also made a visit to Just-in-Time Recreation, a bowling alley where the assailant carried out the attack. There, Biden delivered remarks regarding the tragedy.
"No pain is the same, but we know what it's like to lose a piece of our soul, with the depths of a loss are so profound, some of us have been there," he said. "Eighteen precious souls stolen, 13 wounded. Children, grandchildren, spouses, siblings, parents, grandparents... all of them lived lives of love and service and sacrifice."
He continued, "Regardless of our politics, this is about protecting our freedom to go to a bowling alley, a restaurant, a school, a church, without being shot and killed."
The president and first lady also met with Lewiston hospital staff and emergency medical responders who responded to the two shooting scenes strewn with multiple dead and wounded.
The Bidens finished their visit with a stop at Geiger Elementary School to speak with the families of the victims. The Portland Press Herald reports that he dedicated at least 15 minutes to each family, seated at their tables, engaging in quiet, heartfelt conversations.
The president and first lady reportedly departed Lewiston shortly after 6:30 p.m
"I deeply appreciate President Biden's unwavering support of us in the wake of last week's horrific tragedy. By visiting us in our time of need, the President and first lady are making clear that the entire nation stands with Lewiston and with Maine -- and for that I am profoundly grateful," Maine Gov. Janet Mills said in a statement prior to the president's arrival.
Ahead of the visit, Stefanie Feldman -- who serves as director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention -- issued a statement vowing the administration's full support in the wake of the tragedy.
"Recovering from this attack will be long and difficult, and President Biden is committed to marshaling resources from across the federal government to support Lewiston every step of the way," she said, adding that Biden would "continue to be relentless in doing everything in his power to stop the epidemic of gun violence tearing our communities apart and urging Congress to act on commonsense gun safety legislation."
Meanwhile, Feldman's deputy director, Greg Jackson, has been in Lewiston since the shootings to demonstrate the administration's solidarity with the community, Jean-Pierre said.
The attack, which authorities say was carried out by 40-year-old Army reservist Robert Card, left more than a dozen people wounded at a bar and nearby bowling alley, in the deadliest mass shooting in the country this year.
After a two-day manhunt, the gunman was found dead from a self-inflicted wound in some woods near Lisbon, about eight miles from the site of the massacre.
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