What should have been a night of laughter and celebration ended in horror on January 24, 2026, at the Saint John the Baptist Club in Carver.

🎉 From Joy to Chaos in Seconds
A birthday party was underway—families gathered, music played, and children were present—when gunfire erupted inside the hall. Authorities say Nicholas Meuse, 23, opened fire, killing Benjamin Cowart and Jalen Pina, and injuring two others.

The sudden violence sent partygoers scrambling for safety, transforming a place of celebration into a scene of terror. Parents shielded children. Screams replaced music. In moments, lives were forever changed.

🚔 Flight, Confession, and Arrest
After the shooting, Meuse fled the scene, sparking an urgent search. He was later taken into custody after confessing to the attack, according to investigators. Authorities say he claimed the violence stemmed from pre-existing conflicts with some of those attending the party.

⚖️ Serious Charges Ahead
Meuse now faces charges including murder and attempted murder, with his arraignment scheduled for a later date. Prosecutors are preparing a case that will examine not only the events of that night, but the circumstances that allowed such violence to erupt in a room filled with families.

💔 A Community in Shock
The Carver community is reeling—especially shaken by the fact that children were present during the chaos. Vigils and memorials have begun to appear as loved ones grieve Benjamin and Jalen, two young men whose lives were cut short in what should have been a safe space.

🕊️ Lingering Questions, Lasting Pain
As the investigation continues, families are left to navigate grief that words cannot ease. Why was a conflict allowed to escalate to this point? How can similar tragedies be prevented? Those questions now hang heavy over a town searching for healing.

🌑 More Than a Crime Scene
This was not just a shooting—it was a rupture in a community’s sense of safety. A birthday party meant to create memories instead became one remembered for loss.

Benjamin Cowart and Jalen Pina are remembered for their lives, not the violence that ended them. And as Carver mourns, their names stand as a reminder of the devastating cost of senseless gun violence—and the urgent need to protect spaces meant for joy.