Photo credits: LONDONDERRY POLICE & PELHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT
What was supposed to be the best day of a couple’s life turned into a nightmare after shots rang out at a wedding in Pelham, New Hampshire. One bullet grazed the bride while another struck Bishop Stanley Choate in the chest. The Bishop survived his injuries and has been recovering at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.
However this was not the first time that the church had seen tragedy. Just a little over a week from the incident, a pastor from New England Pentecostal Ministries, Luis Garcia, from the was found shot dead inside his home.
According to prosecutors the wedding shoot-up was in connection with the murder of Garcia. The groom’s son had been arrested for the murder of Garcia, who happened to be the wedding shooter’s stepfather.
The shooter identified as Dale Holloway–who is already serving a state prison sentence of 7 ½ to 15 years for assaulting his lawyer–has chosen to defend himself in court according to the AP.
“You have heard both the judge and state say that I don’t have to prove my innocence– that I am innocent until proven guilty of these charges,” Holloway told the jury in opening statements Tuesday, per the AP. “But I can and I will present the actual, factual truth just because I am not guilty of these charges.”
The couple is expected to make full recovery for their injuries.
Sources
https://people.com/man-on-trial-in-shooting-of-bride-and-bishop-at-wedding-8385867
https://apnews.com/article/religion-shootings-new-hampshire-194be4bd27184d75a3fe70d518041f98
