The suspected gunman in a New Hampshire church shooting where a bride, groom and clergyman were wounded had a violent history in Massachusetts, where he was previously convicted of assault to kill and other charges, court documents revealed on Tuesday.
Dale Holloway, 37, is facing charges including attempted murder in connection with the shooting in Pelham, N.H.. He was convicted in 2003 of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault to kill in Massachusetts, according to a complaint filed with the Hillsborough County Superior Court.
Holloway is expected to appear in court on Tuesday to arraigned on the charges connected with the shooting at a wedding at the New England Pentecostal Ministries on Saturday.
Police said Holloway entered the church on Saturday morning with a handgun and shot 65-year-old church Bishop Stanley Choate in the chest. Holloway then shot the bride, 60-year-old Claire McMullen, in the arm before he was “gang tackled” by guests attending the wedding and held until police arrived.
Mark Castiglione, the groom, suffered minor injuries Saturday when he was struck in the head by an object.
All of the victims are recovering, authorities said — Choate is in serious condition at Tufts Medical Center in Boston and McCullen was released from the hospital Sunday night, according to New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon MacDonald.
Mark Castiglione, the groom, suffered minor injuries Saturday when he was struck in the head by an object.
All of the victims are recovering, authorities said — Choate is in serious condition at Tufts Medical Center in Boston and McCullen was released from the hospital Sunday night, according to New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon MacDonald.
Choate is the second clergyman affiliated with the church to be shot this month, after minister Luis Garcia was shot to death on Oct. 1 in Londonderry. Authorities are investigating whether Saturday’s shooting incident is related to Garcia’s death.
Holloway is Garcia’s stepson and the wedding he allegedly shot up was for the father of the man charged with killing Garcia, according to Senior Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati.
Garcia’s celebration of life service was scheduled to begin at the church at noon, just after the Castiglione wedding ceremony concluded at New England Pentecostal church on Saturday.
The groom’s son, 24-year-old Brandon Castiglione, is charged with second-degree murder in Garcia’s slaying.
The church asked for prayers and pleaded for an end to the violence in a post on the church’s Facebook page on the evening of the shooting.
“We solicit your prayers at this time for the family. The family would plead with everyone to refrain from any acts of violence. That is not what the Bishop would want,” the post said.
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