Crime
Benjamin Cowart and Jalen Pina killed in shooting at birthday party in Carver
CARVER, Mass. — A suspect is in custody following a fatal shooting at a child’s birthday party Saturday evening in Carver that left two people dead and two others injured, according to authorities.
Police were dispatched at approximately 7:22 p.m. to the Saint John the Baptist Club, an event venue located on Silva Street, after receiving reports of gunfire.
Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said responding officers discovered four individuals suffering from gunshot wounds upon arrival.
Benjamin Cowart, 27, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Jalen Pina, 20, was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Plymouth, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Two additional victims were hospitalized.
A 28-year-old man was taken to Tufts Medical Center with injuries described as non-life-threatening, while a 32-year-old man was transported to South Shore Hospital for treatment. Their current conditions have not been publicly released.
District Attorney Cruz said the suspect initially fled the scene but was later located and taken into custody by the Carver Police Department.
Authorities identified the suspect as Nicholas Meuse, 23.
He has been charged with two counts of murder, two counts of armed assault with intent to murder, and multiple firearms-related offenses.
Meuse is scheduled to be arraigned in Wareham District Court.
The Carver Police Department stated that there is no ongoing threat to the public, noting that the incident does not appear to have been random.
The shooting remains under active investigation by the Massachusetts State Police in coordination with the Carver Police Department.
Additional information is expected to be released as the investigation progresses.
A man has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman in the Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati, according to the Cincinnati Police Department.
Authorities identified the suspect as Jesse Wilson, 65, who has been charged with aggravated murder in the death of 36-year-old Jessica Hardy. Wilson was taken into custody and is currently being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center.
Police said officers were dispatched at approximately 6:35 a.m. on March 6 to the 700 block of Ridgeway Avenue after receiving reports of a shooting.
When officers arrived at the Avondale apartment building, they discovered Hardy suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency crews attempted lifesaving measures, but Hardy was pronounced dead at the scene, according to investigators.
The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office later confirmed her death and ruled the case an apparent homicide.
Detectives with the homicide unit launched an investigation shortly after the shooting, gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses as they worked to determine the circumstances leading up to the deadly incident.
Wilson was subsequently identified as a suspect and arrested.
Authorities have not yet released additional details about what may have led to the shooting.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police have asked anyone with information related to the case to contact the homicide unit.