Massachusetts – In a deeply disturbing case in Massachusetts that left a mother, identified as A. Holyoke, with a severe form of vision loss and three children traumatized, a 30-year-old man, identified as S. Holiday, has been sentenced to 30 to 40 years in state prison after shooting his seven-month pregnant girlfriend in the head in an attempt to silence her. Prosecutors say Holiday launched a calculated attack on Holyoke, the mother of his children, in her home, trying to prevent her from testifying against him.
The violent incident occurred on September 8, 2020, inside Holyoke’s third-floor apartment. Holiday was found guilty of multiple charges, including armed home invasion, armed assault with intent to murder, and assault and battery upon a pregnant person, among others. According to court documents, Holiday arrived at the apartment building that afternoon and gained entry. Once inside, he grabbed Holyoke, who was 7 months pregnant, from behind, wrapped his arm around her neck, and shot her on the side of her head, while their three children were still inside the apartment.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene after receiving a 911 call and found Holyoke just inside the building’s doorway, suffering from a gunshot wound to her right temple. The bullet exited through the other side of her head and ultimately lodged in Holiday’s left forearm. Holyoke was first transported to the hospital, and then airlifted to a medical center due to the severity of her injuries. Despite surviving the ordeal, she lost her vision permanently.
Meanwhile, police at the scene followed a blood trail upstairs, where they found the couple’s three young children. As officers were escorting the children out, one of them pointed to a man sitting on the sidewalk, being treated for a gunshot wound. That man was Holiday — and the child identified him as their father. Investigators revealed that Holiday had been wearing a court-ordered GPS monitoring bracelet at the time of the shooting. Using surveillance footage, GPS data, and interviews, police confirmed that Holiday had entered the apartment with the intent to commit the attack.
District Attorney T. Cruz condemned Holiday’s actions as “despicable” and “cowardly,” highlighting that the shooting took place in the presence of his own children. One of the most chilling motives uncovered was that Holiday had previously tried to stop Holyoke from testifying against him in an ongoing legal case. As a result, he was also convicted of intimidation of a witness, as well as unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, reckless endangerment of a child, and aggravated assault and battery.
A superior court judge sentenced Holiday to 30 to 40 years in a state correctional facility. The sentence consists of two consecutive terms: 25 to 30 years for the most serious offenses, followed by 5 to 10 additional years. Following his release, Holiday will be required to wear a GPS tracking device, undergo a mental health evaluation, and comply with all treatment recommendations. He will also be barred from contacting the victims without the court’s explicit approval.
Holyoke, who not only survived a brutal attack but also carried her child to term afterward, continues to live with the devastating physical and emotional effects of the shooting. Her strength in the courtroom and throughout the legal proceedings has been praised by advocates and prosecutors alike. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of domestic violence and the extraordinary courage it takes to seek justice in its wake.
