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Alleged Pelham church shooter now accused of assaulting attorney

By Dean Shalhoup - Senior Staff Writer | Oct 22, 2019

File photo Dale E. Holloway Jr., 37, most recent address, 549 Lake Ave., Manchester

MANCHESTER – Dale E. Holloway Jr., the man charged with attempted murder and other offenses in connection with the Oct. 12 shooting at a Pelham church, allegedly attacked his attorney Monday morning as the two met at the Hillsborough County House of Corrections, commonly called the Valley Street jail.

Michael Davidow, a staff attorney at the New Hampshire Public Defender office in Nashua, reportedly sustained multiple, serious injuries in the alleged attack, which officials said occurred around 9:30 a.m.

Reports indicate Davidow was treated by Manchester emergency service personnel before transport to Elliot Hospital, where a trauma alert was reportedly called.

New Hampshire Assistant Attorney General Benjamin Agati said in a statement Monday evening that Holloway has been charged with one count of first-degree assault in connection with the alleged beating of Davidow. He is scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. today at Hillsborough County Superior Court-North.

“It is alleged that Mr. Holloway caused serious bodily injury to Davidow, causing him to suffer a serious head injury,” according to the statement.

The evidentiary hearing for Holloway in the Pelham case, which was scheduled for this afternoon in Superior Court in Nashua, was canceled.

Shortly after the Nashua court became aware of the incident, Judge Charles Temple issued an order granting “the New Hampshire Public Defender’s motion to withdraw, based on a conflict of interest,” according to the order.

Accordingly, today’s hearing was continued, Temple wrote, “to allow for the appointment of new counsel.” Once new counsel is on board, a new date for the evidentiary hearing will be scheduled, he added.

Attorney Amanda Steenhuis, the director of the Nashua Public Defender office, couldn’t be reached for comment Monday.

Capt. Gifford Hiscoe, chief of security at Valley Street jail, said Holloway “was meeting with his attorney … it was during this visit (Holloway) is suspected of attacking his attorney.”

Davidow “sustained facial and head injuries and was transported to the hospital,” Hiscoe said, adding that he didn’t yet know how serious the injuries are.

Holloway “is currently in the restricted housing unit … he is being managed accordingly,” Hiscoe said.

He said Manchester police “came in to conduct an investigation of the matter.” An earlier statement issued by the Attorney General’s office confirmed police had launched an investigation.

The earlier statement referred only to “an alleged assault by Dale Holloway involving one other individual,” and that more information “will be released as it becomes available.”

Meanwhile, Holloway, 37, whose last known address is 549 Lake Ave., Manchester, is accused of walking into the New England Pentecostal Church in Pelham during an Oct. 12 wedding ceremony and opening fire with a .380 handgun.

The charges that followed include one count each of attempted murder; first-degree assault; felon in possession of a firearm; second-degree assault; and simple assault.

Holloway has been housed in Valley Street jail since his arrest.

During the incident, which occurred shortly after 10 a.m. Oct. 12, Holloway allegedly shot Bishop Stanley Choate in the chest, and shot the bride, Claire McMullen, in the arm. He is also accused of striking the groom, Mark Castiglione, in the head with the firearm.

Numerous wedding participants and guests “gang tackled” Holloway, police said at the time, and “pinned him to the ground” to await the arrival of police.

Castiglione and McMullen were treated and later released from local hospitals.

Choate, however, was transferred to Tufts Medical Center in Boston, where he was initially listed in serious condition. Indications are he has since improved, and was most recently listed in stable condition.

Davidow, meanwhile, has been a New Hampshire public defender for nearly 20 years. He holds a doctor of law degree from University of Michigan School of Law, and previously attended Johns Hopkins University.

He is also an accomplished author, having published several books, the most recent of which is “The Book of Order.” Released just a month ago, the book is described as “a novel about the Kaddish prayer and the Jews of the City of Boston.”

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256, or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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