Man Accused in Deadly Birthday Party Shooting Held Without Bail

WAREHAM (WBSM) — The man accused of fatally shooting two people and injuring two others at a child’s birthday party in Carver last Saturday has been ordered held without bail following his arraignment in Wareham District Court.

New details have also emerged about the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz and Carver Police Chief Marc Duphily announced that Nicholas Meuse, 23, is facing 12 criminal charges, including two counts each of murder, attempted murder, and armed assault to murder.

READ MORE: Two Shot and Killed at Child's Birthday Party in Carver

Meuse will be held without bail pending a probable cause hearing scheduled for February 25.

The Carver Birthday Party Shooting

Carver Police responded to reports on January 24 at about 7:21 p.m. that multiple people had been shot at a child’s birthday party at the Saint John the Baptist Club, located at 53 Silva Street.

Two Shooting Victims Died, Two Survived

Four victims were found at the scene. One of them, identified as Benjamin Cowart, 27, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Another, Jalen Pina, 20, was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth, where he died from his injuries. A 28-year-old man was taken to Tufts Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening, and a 32-year-old man was taken to South Shore Hospital for treatment.

New Details Revealed About the Carver Birthday Party Shooting

Police located and apprehended Meuse in the woods near the club shortly after the incident and took him to Carver Police headquarters. According to authorities, it was determined that Meuse was the one who called 911 following the incident and told dispatchers he was the shooter. He told detectives he was invited to the party by a relative but had “pre-existing conflicts with some of the attendees,” according to authorities.

“Once he arrived, Meuse said tensions flared up and ultimately led to the shooting. While Meuse claimed to have seen one of the attendees reach for their waistband immediately before the incident, investigators only found a single gun – a 9-millimeter firearm with an obliterated serial number – at the scene,” the authorities said.