Nashua Sky Meadow shooting: victim dies shielding family; suspect charged
Police say a man shielding his wife and daughter died; the gunman was detained at the scene and faces second-degree murder charges as motive remains under investigation.
An early-evening shooting at Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua, New Hampshire, Saturday left one man dead and several others wounded, authorities said. Robert DeCesare, 59, died after throwing himself in front of his wife and daughter to shield them from the gunfire, his mother Evie O’Rourke told WMUR. The gunman, 23-year-old Hunter Nadeau, was detained at the scene and charged with second-degree murder; he is scheduled to be arraigned Monday. Police said more than 100 people were at the club when the shooting began, and two other people were wounded. Witnesses said the suspect yelled 'Free Palestine!' during the attack, and some described DeCesare as having been targeted, though prosecutors have not yet confirmed a motive.
DeCesare was at a wedding reception when the gunfire erupted, and his mother described him as a devoted family man who acted to protect his loved ones. 'His thought was to take care of his family,' O’Rourke said, noting that DeCesare's daughter is due to be married in six weeks. Witness Tom Bartelson told WMUR that it looked like the shooter was going right for DeCesare. An SUV matching Nadeau’s possible vehicle, a Toyota RAV4, was towed from the area late Saturday. The attorney general’s office had not released any official motive.
Authorities indicated Nadeau had no known connection to DeCesare, though witnesses described the attack as targeted. The shooting occurred in a crowded dining room with more than 100 people present. Investigators are reviewing security footage, interviewing witnesses, and collecting other evidence as they pursue a fuller understanding of the events.
Nadeau is charged with second-degree murder and is set to be arraigned Monday, according to the attorney general’s office. A vehicle linked to the suspect was described by investigators as a possible Toyota RAV4, and a similar SUV was seen being towed away from near Sky Meadow on Saturday night.
The shooting ended quickly, but the impact resonated through a community that had gathered for a celebration. The victim’s family has requested privacy while authorities continue to investigate, and local officials cautioned the public not to jump to conclusions about motives or affiliations. As the investigation unfolds, prosecutors and police will review interview transcripts, forensic evidence, and corroborating witness accounts to determine how the attack unfolded and whether the event was directed at DeCesare or incidental to a broader motive. The case remains under review by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office and Nashua police. The public can expect updates as new information becomes available.