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Fatal shooting last week eyed as possible motive in wake of attack at Pelham church

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Police at the scene of a church shooting in Pelham on Saturday. (Courtesy photo)

PELHAM - A man walked into a Pelham church during a wedding ceremony on Saturday shooting the presiding bishop and bride with a handgun.

Dale Holloway, 37, was pinned down by parishioners until police arrived. He was charged with First-Degree Assault on Bishop Stanley Choate, 75, of Pelham, the New Hampshire AG's office said in a press release Saturday afternoon.

Pelham Police responded to the scene around 10:10 a.m. for a reported shooting at the New England Pentecostal Church at 955 Bridge St. after a 911 call was made from the church where a wedding service was taking place.

Within moments, nearby officers were on scene and immediately entered the church where they found Bishop Choate who had suffered a gunshot wound to the upper chest. Officers also discovered a number of parishioners holding Holloway down on the ground.

Bishop Choate was listed in serious condition at Tufts Medical Center in Boston on Saturday.

Two other parishioners suffered injuries. Claire McMullen, 60, suffered a gunshot wound to the arm. She was listed on Saturday in good condition at a local hospital. Mark Castiglione, 60, the groom, was struck in the head with an object and was released after treatment at a local hospital.

Holloway was also charged with alternative counts of purposely and knowingly causing bodily injury by means of a deadly weapon.

He is being held without bail while awaiting a Tuesday arraignment.

The shooting does not appear to be random, say police, who are investigating whether the incident may be linked to a shooting last week in which one of the church's ordained ministers, Luis Garcia, was killed. The suspect in Saturday's shooting is Garcia's stepson, and Castiglione's son is charged in Garcia's death, according to a report in The Washington Post.

"Family relationships and dynamics are something we're still looking into right now," Senior Assistant Attorney General Benjamin Agati said.

The New Hampshire State Police and Pelham Police Department are continuing to investigate this crime. Preliminary investigation of the matter indicates that this incident does not appear to be a random event. Anyone with information is encouraged the Sergeant Kelly Healey at the New Hampshire State Police Major Crime Unit at the following phone number: 603-MCU-TIPS (603-628-8477).

Church services scheduled for today were canceled. Crisis counselors will be available tomorrow for anyone in the Pelham community or the New England Pentecostal Church community at Sherburne Hall community center tomorrow from noon-5 p.m. Anyone who would want to talk one-on-one with a counselor is encouraged to attend.

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