Two women from southern Maine are on their way to recovery after they were injured in a shooting in Charleston, South Carolina.
Carigan Allie and Julia Martel, two spin instructors, were hit by errant gunfire near the College of Charleston campus while on vacation May 17.
They were uninvolved bystanders, waiting to be served at Gilroy’s Pizza Pub, according to a statement Allie’s family shared on a GoFundMe page raising money for Allie’s medical bills. A GoFundMe fundraiser was also created to help cover Martel’s medical costs.
Martel and Allie were taken to Medical University South Carolina, where Allie was treated for life-threatening injuries. Allie will face months of recovery, according to her family’s statement, and Martel was released from the hospital, WMTW reported.
Both women are spin instructors at Jibe Cycling Studio, and Allie is also a fifth-grade teacher at Westbrook Middle School.
Jibe Cycling Studio has locations in Maine and South Carolina. Allie and Martel took the trip to South Carolina for fun, and they rode in one of Jibe’s studios while they were there, Joanna Witherill, the owner, said Wednesday.
Martel is a phenomenal and energetic instructor, always full of life, Witherill said. “She makes everyone feel better than when they came into her class,” she said.
Allie lights up every room she enters, and she’s always smiling when Witherill sees her, she said.
Witherill described both as full-time cheerleaders. The shooting was an absolute tragedy, she said, but Allie and Martel are resilient, and with the support of the community, they will heal.
“She is a fantastic teacher,” Westbrook Superintendent Peter Lancia said of Allie. “She has an engaging personality and is a great role model for our middle schoolers.”
He said she is determined to return to teach, although her recovery may be lengthy. Students and colleagues have sent her cards and notes.
“Julia is known for her incredibly fun and spicy attitude and is widely loved by so many in her community,” the GoFundMe page for Martel reads.
The suspect opened fire after an argument outside the restaurant, killing one victim and injuring two bystanders, according to the Charleston Police Department. The suspect, Andre Ramon Nesbit, was charged with murder, battery of a high and aggravated nature, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.
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