NASHUA, N.H. — A wedding celebration turned into a scene of terror on Saturday evening at the Sky Meadow Country Club when a gunman opened fire, resulting in one death and two injuries. The 59-year-old victim, Robert Steven DeCesare, was confirmed dead by officials, while two others were wounded.
The suspected shooter, 23-year-old Hunter Nadeau, has been taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder. New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella stated that additional charges are likely as investigators continue to pursue the case. Nadeau's arraignment is set for Monday at the Ninth Circuit Court in Nashua.
Initial reports indicated there might have been two shooters, but authorities later confirmed Nadeau acted alone. The motive for the shooting remains unclear, with no known connection between Nadeau and DeCesare. Senior Assistant Attorney General Peter Hinckley confirmed that the investigation continues to unfold.
Witnesses described the moment chaos erupted. Tom Bartelson, a wedding attendee, recalled hearing several gunshots as people scrambled for safety. Bartelson reported hearing the shooter make statements like the children are safe and a controversial phrase linked to the conflict in the Middle East. We were trying to keep family members safe, keep everybody down, and find safe spots, he expressed.
Meanwhile, Evie O’Rourke, the mother of the deceased, shared her devastating experience of searching for her son post-shooting. Eyewitness Emily Ernst reported seeing the gunman dressed entirely in black and masked before fleeing the scene.
Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess expressed confidence in law enforcement's ability to resolve the situation and bring the perpetrator to justice, reminding communities everywhere that such violence can happen unexpectedly. U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander expressed her sorrow and solidarity with the victims, their families, and the Nashua community.
As the investigation progresses, this unfortunate event has reignited discussions surrounding gun control measures and the pressing need for community safety protocols amid rising incidents of violence.
