Jalen Pina and Benjamin Cowart Killed in Carver, Massachusetts Birthday Party Shooting – January 25, 2026

On January 25, 2026, a shooting occurred at a child’s birthday party at Saint John The Baptist social club in Carver, Massachusetts, resulting in the deaths of 20-year-old Jalen Pina and 27-year-old Benjamin Cowart. Authorities reported that two additional men, aged 28 and 32, sustained gunshot injuries and were hospitalized in stable condition. Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz stated that the incident was not random, as all involved parties appeared to know each other.

The alleged shooter, 22-year-old Nicholas Meuse, fled the scene but was apprehended nearby and faces multiple charges, including two counts each of murder and armed assault with intent to murder. Law enforcement emphasized that no ongoing threat exists in Carver, a town of roughly 12,000 residents, while the investigation into the events at the family gathering continues.