Benjamin Cowart and Jalen Pina Killed in Carver, Massachusetts Shooting at Child’s Birthday Party on January 24, 2026

On January 24, 2026, a shooting at the Saint John the Baptist Club in Carver, Massachusetts, resulted in the deaths of Benjamin Cowart, 27, and Jalen Pina, 20. The violence occurred at approximately 7:21 p.m. during a child’s birthday celebration on Silva Street. Law enforcement officers responding to reports of multiple gunshots located four victims inside the social club. Cowart was pronounced dead at the scene. Pina was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Plymouth, where he later died from his injuries. Two additional men, ages 28 and 32, remain hospitalized in critical condition.

Authorities identified 23-year-old Nicholas Meuse as the suspect. He was taken into custody near the scene and is scheduled to be arraigned in Wareham District Court on multiple charges, including two counts of murder and armed assault with intent to murder. The Carver Police Department stated that the shooting appears to have been targeted and not a random act of violence. The investigation remains active, with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police. The deaths of Cowart and Pina have left a marked absence in the local community, as officials continue to examine the circumstances that led to the attack.