What to Know
- A bishop and a bride were shot after a gunman opened fire during a wedding at a Pelham, New Hampshire church on Saturday.
- The suspect, 37-year-old Dale Holloway, allegedly began firing with a handgun before he was tackled by guests.
- Holloway is the stepson of a minister from the same church who was killed earlier this month, a state prosecutor said Sunday.
The suspect who allegedly shot a bishop and a bride during a weekend wedding in New Hampshire is facing additional charges, including attempted murder, officials announced.
Dale Holloway is facing four additional charges in connection to Saturday's shooting at the New England Pentecostal Church in Pelham, according to a joint press release from Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald, New Hampshire State Police Colonel Christopher Wagner, and Pelham Police Chief Joseph A. Roark.
Authorities said Sunday that 37-year-old Holloway now faces a charge of attempted murder for the shooting of 75-year-old Bishop Stanley Choate, a charge of second-degree assault for the shooting of the bride, Claire McMullen, and a charge of simple assault for injuring the groom, Mark Castiglione, in addition to a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Holloway was previously convicted of a felony in Suffolk Superior Court in Massachusetts, according to officials, but it was not revealed by authorities what his prior conviction was for.
Officials say Choate was shot in the chest, McMullen was shot in the arm and Castiglione suffered minor injuries when he was hit in the head by a firearm.
All are recovering from their injuries.
Castiglione, 60, was treated and released from a local hospital Saturday. Officials said his bride, 60-year-old McMullen, who was reported in good condition, was released from a local hospital Sunday.
No update was given Sunday on the condition of Bishop Choate, who was said to be in serious condition at Tufts Medical Center on Saturday.
"The bishop turned around to face him to see what was going on and this guy shot him point blank right in the chest," the father of the groom said of what he witnessed at the church.
In a phone interview with NBC10 Boston Sunday night, Angelo Castiglione says he was sitting in the front pew when he saw the shooter run up.
"Before you know it the guy pulled out a gun and aimed it right at the bishop. Shot him twice. And aimed toward my son and his wife, shot again and she got a bullet through the arm," he said of what he saw.
Angelo Castiglione says his other son wrestled the gun away and took Holloway to the ground, staying on top of him until police arrived.
Authorities said parishioners tackled the suspected shooter and held him until police arrived.
Officials have not released a motive in the attack.
The man charged with wounding Bishop Choate and McMullen is the stepson of a minister from the same church who was killed earlier this month, a state prosecutor said Sunday.
Holloway is the stepson of 60-year-old Luis Garcia who was shot to death Oct. 1 in Londonderry, Senior Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati said in an email.
The groom was the father of the man charged with killing Garcia, Agati said.
Brandon Castiglione, 24, has been charged in the killing of Garcia. He waived arraignment and is currently being held without bail. A phone number or lawyer information for him could not be found.
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A funeral for Garcia had been scheduled to take place after the wedding.
Holloway is expected to be arraigned on these four new charges, as well as an original charge of first degree assault for knowingly causing bodily injury by means of a deadly weapon, on Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Hillsborough County Superior Court South in Nashua. It's unclear if he has an attorney.
The New Hampshire State Police and Pelham Police Department are continuing to investigate. Anyone with information is encouraged the Sergeant Kelly Healey at the New Hampshire State Police Major Crime Unit at 603-628-8477.
