Robert DeCesare Obituary, Death – On Saturday night, a tragic shooting unfolded at the Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua, New Hampshire, leaving one man dead and two others injured. Authorities confirmed that a lone gunman, later identified as 23-year-old Hunter Nadeau, was arrested in connection with the attack.
The man killed in the incident was 59-year-old Robert Steven DeCesare, whose family confirmed his identity and shared a photo with local media. The New Hampshire Attorney General’s office later officially released his name. According to investigators, Nadeau fatally shot DeCesare with a handgun during the chaos and also wounded two other adults. Officials stated there is no known link between the suspect and the victim.
Nadeau, a former employee of the country club who had not worked there for about a year, is now facing a charge of second-degree murder. New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella told reporters that the shooting did not appear to be hate-driven, despite some inflammatory statements made by the suspect during the attack. Formella said the comments were likely intended to stir confusion rather than reveal motive.
The shooting unfolded in multiple locations within the country club. One victim, a staff member working as a host, was shot near the bathrooms and taken to Mass General Hospital, where he remains in stable condition. DeCesare was killed at The Prime at Sky Meadow, the country club’s restaurant. The condition of the third victim has not yet been released.
Witnesses described a terrifying scene as gunfire rang out during a wedding reception. Guests scrambled for safety, some hiding under tables, while others fled into the kitchen or out of exits. Sophie Flabouris of Lowell recalled hearing rapid gunfire followed by people yelling, “Gun, run,” which sent crowds into panic.
Other attendees gave accounts of seeing the shooter move through the building. Michael Homewood said he saw the gunman walk across the dance floor into the kitchen, where he gestured and made remarks before leaving. Another guest, Tom Bartelson, reported hearing Nadeau say, “The children are safe” and “Free Palestine.”
Nadeau was located and taken into custody in a neighborhood close to the country club. Nashua Police Chief Kevin Rourke confirmed that the suspect was cooperative during his arrest, though it remains unclear whether he was armed at the time.
The heavy police response involved multiple agencies. Families and guests were directed to a reunification center at the Sheraton Hotel on Tara Boulevard, where buses transported those who had been at the country club. Authorities also arranged for guests to reclaim vehicles left in the parking lot by coordinating with officers on site.
New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte issued a statement expressing sympathy for the victims’ families and gratitude to law enforcement and first responders for their swift actions. She pledged ongoing support for the investigation, which remains active under the Attorney General’s office and Nashua police.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Nashua Police Department at 603-594-3500 as investigators continue piecing together the motive behind the attack.
