Tragedy at the Wedding: A New Hampshire Country Club Shooting
On a seemingly joyous Saturday night at the Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua, New Hampshire, a wedding celebration turned into a harrowing tragedy with a shooting that left at least one person dead and two others injured. The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the local community, has prompted a thorough criminal investigation as 23-year-old Hunter Nadeau, a former employee of the club, faces second-degree murder charges.
According to reports, the shooting began during what was supposed to be a festive gathering for the bride and groom, with Nadeau allegedly opening fire amid the celebrations. The event quickly turned chaotic as multiple people were injured, with one victim succumbing to their injuries. Witnesses told law enforcement that they heard the suspect shout ‘free Palestine’ during the attack, a statement that has raised questions about potential motives, though investigators have yet to find evidence of hate-based motivations. “Getting together for a dance for the bride and groom and then all chaos went off,” said Tom Bartelson, a witness who was attending his nephew’s wedding, describing the sudden shift from celebration to violence.
Authorities, including the New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella, have maintained that there is no evidence to suggest the shooting was politically motivated. Formella emphasized that, based on current findings, Nadeau was likely trying to create chaos at the event. “At this point, the evidence leads us to believe that it is more likely that Mr. Nadeau was simply trying to make a number of statements to create chaos in the moment,” Formella stated during a press conference. The investigation will undoubtedly continue as the court prepares for a probable cause hearing scheduled for October 1 at 10:15 a.m. in Nashua’s Ninth Circuit Court.
Despite the tragedy, the community has shown solidarity in the wake of the incident. DeCesare’s wife, Charlene, expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of support received from friends, family, and the local community. She described her late husband, Rob, as a man of great love and dedication, someone who had long dreamed of retiring, selling everything, and living on a boat in the Caribbean. “You’d be hard-pressed to find a man more loved, not only by his family but by his many groups of friends from golf, poker and pickleball,” Charlene said in a poignant statement. The loss of Rob, who was set to walk his daughter down the aisle at her wedding in the fall, has left his family and friends in deep mourning.
Meanwhile, the Sky Meadow Country Club owner, Rob Parsons, has praised the courage of the patrons and employees who stepped up to help during the crisis. “This was the heinous act of a coward who will be held to account for what he did,” Parsons said in a statement. The club has also confirmed that two people were injured, including one employee and one guest, who are currently recovering from their injuries. Four additional individuals, although not shot, reported non-gunshot injuries. Nadeau has already been charged with second-degree murder in DeCesare’s killing, with additional charges expected for the other victims.
In light of the ongoing investigation, authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward to assist in solving the case. The Nashua Police Department has offered contact details for those seeking to provide evidence or insight into the incident. As the family of the deceased begins the long road to healing, the community continues to show its support, hoping for justice and the closure that no one deserves in such circumstances.