Authorities in Nashua, New Hampshire say a wedding celebration at the Sky Meadow Country Club turned into chaos on Saturday when a gunman opened fire, killing one guest and wounding two others. Police later arrested 23-year-old Hunter Nadeau, who is facing a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the death of 59-year-old Robert Steven DeCesare. Investigators said they had not yet identified a motive and believe Nadeau and DeCesare did not know each other.
Witness accounts depict a terrifying scene. Tom Bartelson of Pepperell, Massachusetts — whose nephew was the groom — recalled hearing six gunshots just as the bride and groom were about to dance. According to Bartelson, the shooter shouted phrases including “the children are safe” and “free Palestine” before firing, though police have not confirmed whether the incident had any political element. Guests ducked, fled and tried to shield relatives as panic spread across the venue.
DeCesare’s mother, Evie O’Rourke, said her daughter-in-law and granddaughter managed to escape but saw DeCesare collapse, bleeding. Another witness, Emily Ernst, described the attacker as dressed in black with a mask. “We just saw him raise the gun and then we ran,” she told reporters, adding she escaped through the kitchen.
Initial reports suggested more than one assailant, but authorities later confirmed a single shooter. Details about the two wounded victims’ conditions remain undisclosed. Officials have said additional charges against Nadeau are likely.
Video from local broadcaster WMUR showed a large emergency response at the club. Nashua’s mayor, Jim Donchess, praised police efforts and warned residents that such violence “can happen where you live” even in seemingly safe communities. Democratic U.S. Representative Maggie Goodlander issued a statement saying she was closely monitoring the situation and expressing sympathy for victims and their families.
Nashua, located roughly 45 miles northwest of Boston, sits just across the Massachusetts border. The shooting is the latest high-profile incident to highlight how quickly public gatherings, including weddings, can become targets of deadly violence — and how difficult it can be for authorities to determine motives in the immediate aftermath.
