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.
Crime
Angela Johnson and Her Son DeAngelo Johnson Killed After Shooting Inside Home in Chicago, Mother’s Boyfriend in Custody
CHICAGO — A 47-year-old mother and her 27-year-old son were fatally shot inside a residence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, according to Chicago police.
The victims were identified as Angela Johnson, 47, and DeAngelo Johnson, 27. Police said a suspect, identified as Angela Johnson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody following the shooting.
The deadly shooting happened in the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue at approximately 10:43 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the basement of the residence and called 911.
When Chicago police officers arrived, they found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Angela Johnson was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to her chest. Police-radio traffic indicated she had been shot on the right side of her chest.
DeAngelo Johnson was found on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Radio traffic indicated that he had suffered two gunshot wounds to his back.
Both victims were initially unresponsive and in critical condition. Emergency personnel performed CPR on DeAngelo Johnson before both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to police-radio traffic, one victim was pronounced dead at approximately 11:18 p.m., while the male victim was pronounced dead around 11:21 p.m.
Investigators found extensive evidence inside the residence, including approximately 23 shell casings in a basement bedroom. Additional shell casings were reportedly recovered in other areas of the basement, including the stairway, main room and bedroom.
Officers initially recovered a firearm and shell casings from the basement bedroom. Police later located a second firearm inside the home, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two.
Authorities have not publicly stated who owned the firearms or confirmed which weapon, if either, was used in the fatal shooting.
Police also reported that DeAngelo Johnson was wearing an empty holster when officers found him on the first floor. That discovery prompted an officer-safety alert as officers searched the residence for the missing firearm.
Chicago police said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and identified the alleged offender as the mother’s boyfriend.
Radio traffic indicated that a person had been detained by approximately 11:26 p.m. The official police report later confirmed that the known offender was taken into custody.
Two witnesses were reportedly available to identify the alleged offender, and officers conducted a show-up identification procedure near the scene.
Police have not released additional information about potential charges against the suspect.
The investigation into the Chicago Austin neighborhood double shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the shooting, the relationship between the people involved and the role of the two recovered firearms.
The deaths of Angela Johnson and DeAngelo Johnson are being investigated as a double homicide.