In a shocking turn of events, a wedding ceremony at the New England Pentecostal Ministries in Pelham, New Hampshire, took a violent turn when the groom’s stepbrother allegedly opened fire, injuring the bride and critically wounding the officiating bishop. The incident, which occurred in October 2019, is now believed to be connected to the murder of the church’s pastor, Luis Garcia, just 11 days prior.

Dale Holloway, the pastor’s stepson, stands accused of the wedding shooting. He was apprehended by wedding guests and now faces attempted murder charges, representing himself in court and asserting an insanity defense. Holloway is already serving time for assaulting his lawyer, adding a layer of complexity to the unfolding legal drama.

The groom’s son, Brandon Castiglione, had previously been arrested before the ill-fated wedding, charged with the murder of Pastor Garcia. In August, he was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 42 years in prison. The motive behind the pastor’s killing remains unclear, adding intrigue to the case.

During the trial, the jury watched the couple’s wedding video, where the wedding videographer, James Merchant, identified Holloway as the shooter. According to Merchant, Holloway pointed the gun at the bishop before chaos ensued. The video was halted just before the shots were fired, leaving the court to rely on eyewitness testimonies to piece together the events.

The 60-year-old bride and groom were both injured in the shooting, with the bride sustaining an arm injury and the groom struck in the head by an object. Both were promptly taken to a local hospital for treatment. Bishop Stanley Choate, 75, who was in serious condition after the incident, managed to survive his chest wound sustained during the ceremony.

This bizarre and tragic sequence of events has gripped the local community, with residents initially turned away from a celebration of life ceremony for Pastor Garcia due to the ongoing police investigation. The motive behind the shootings and the link between the wedding violence and the pastor’s murder continue to be central questions in the trial.

As the courtroom drama unfolds, the community awaits answers and justice for the victims, grappling with the shocking transformation of a joyous occasion into a scene of violence and mayhem. The accused, Dale Holloway, maintains his innocence and asserts that he will present the “actual, factual truth” in his defense. The trial is expected to provide more insights into the disturbing events that unfolded at the New England Pentecostal Ministries in 2019.