Man who shot bishop at wedding service now being investigated in jail assault

Staff reports 4:40 p.m.


Man who shot bishop at wedding service now being investigated in jail assault

Dale Holloway (Police mugshot)

MANCHESTER - The man accused of shooting a preacher at a Pelham church earlier this month is being investigated for his alleged assault today on another individual at the Valley Street Jail in Manchester.

Dale Holloway, 37, has several charges against him in connection with his alleged shooting during a wedding ceremony inside the New England Pentecostal Church in Pelham on Oct. 12.

The charges include attempted murder in the shooting of Bishop Stanley Choate, 75, of Pelham, who was presiding at the wedding.

Other charges against Holloway include being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, second degree assault and simple assault for striking the groom in the head with a firearm.

The violence erupted when police say Halloway walked into the church around 10:10 a.m. and opened fire, shooting the bishop in the chest and the bride in the arm.

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

Two other parishioners suffered injuries: the bride, Claire McMullen, 60, with a gunshot wound to the arm; and the groom, Mark Castiglione, 60, who was struck in the head, allegedly when he was pistol whipped by Holloway.

The shooting does not appear to be random, say police, who are investigating whether the incident may be linked to a shooting earlier this month in which one of the church's ordained ministers, Luis Garcia, was killed. Holloway is Garcia's stepson, and Castiglione's son is charged in Garcia's death.

Garcia's funeral was scheduled to follow the wedding ceremony.

Today's alleged assault by Holloway is being investigated by the Manchester Police Department.