A man was charged with second-degree murder after a shooting Saturday night at a country club in Nashua in which one person was killed and several other people were injured, some while trying to flee the chaotic scene.The Attorney General’s Office said Hunter Nadeau, 23, of Nashua, allegedly shot and killed Robert DeCesare, 59, in an attack at the Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua.An autopsy on DeCesare is scheduled for Monday. >> See the full press conference from Sunday afternoonNadeau, meanwhile, is scheduled to be arraigned at 1 p.m. Monday. Formella said additional charges are likely. Investigators said Nadeau shot and wounded two other people, including one who worked at the restaurant and one who was a patron. Meanwhile, at least four other people suffered other non-gunshot injuries as they tried to flee.>> City provides resources, updates to those impacted by shootingNashua Fire Rescue said on Sunday that two people who were wounded were taken by vehicle to the Spit Brook Road fire station, where aid was given to one person with a gunshot wound to the face and one person with a hand laceration. Both were taken to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center and the gunshot victim was flown to a Boston hospital, fire authorities said. Attorney General John Formella said the victim flown to a Boston hospital is in in critical condition, but the victim is said to be stable.Nashua Fire Rescue said the people who suffered non-gunshot injuries included a broken hand, blunt force trauma, chest pains, panic attacks and lacerations.More than 100 people were at the country club at the time of the shooting. Nashua Fire Rescue said they helped about 100 people from the scene to the Spit Brook Road firehouse, most by foot. Some were taken with the department’s UTV. INFORMATION ABOUT A MOTIVE There is no known connection between the victim and the shooter, police said.Formella said Nadeau previously worked at the Sky Meadow Country Club for about a year, though the nature of his employment status when he left was not known. “It looked like a target, that he was going right for this person,” said witness Tom Bartelson. “I feel terrible for him.”Bartelson said Nadeau was saying things during the shooting.”He just came out and said, ‘The children are safe,’ and, ‘Free Palestine,'” Bartelson said.Despite reports of “free Palestine” comments made by the suspect, investigators said he also made several other statements. “At this point, the evidence leads us to believe it is more likely that Mr. Nadeau was simply trying to make a number of statements to create chaos in the moment,” Formella said.Formella said it is believed there is no hate motive in connection with this case. “At this point, we don’t have any evidence to indicate this was a hate-based act,” Formella said.PATRONS CREDITED FOR ACTIONS AFTER SHOOTINGFormella said the shooting, while tragic, could have been a much worse situation. He credited the action of patrons after the shooting.”I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the patrons in the restaurant who acted selflessly and quickly with more care for their fellow citizens than for themselves to help keep this a contained event and minimized this tragedy as much as they could,” Formella said.INTERVIEW WITH VICTIM’S MOTHERA woman who spoke to WMUR’s sister station WCVB on Saturday night at the Nashua Police Department identified herself as DeCesare’s mother. Evie O’Rourke said her son jumped in front of his wife and daughter to protect them.”He kicked the door open, and Rob just went right for him and protected his family,” O’Rourke said. “We don’t know any information more about it other than they have arrested him, but boy, is he going to be missed. He’s just a great guy.”Law enforcement officers from more than a dozen communities in New Hampshire and Massachusetts responded to the scene when calls about the shooting came in at about 7:30 p.m. In audio obtained by News 9 from Broadcastify.com, dispatchers can be heard alerting police that someone had been shot in the face.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<“It’s so shocking that we just can’t believe it. We think everybody’s lying. This can’t have happened,” O’Rourke said. “They were just enjoying a meal at their country club, and in comes the guy, shot the maître d’, and it was right in front of him. And I guess he died right there.”DeCesare lived at Sky Meadow and was dining there with his family when the shooting occurred. “His thought was to take care of his family,” O’Rourke said. “And his daughter’s getting married in six weeks, so it’s going to be very tough.” ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND REACTIONSources told News 9 Investigates that after the shooting, police were looking for a Toyota RAV4 that might have been connected to the shooter. A vehicle fitting that description was seen being towed away near the scene late Saturday night. In a statement, Sky Meadow Country Club said, “Sky Meadow Country Club is cooperating with law enforcement officials as they conduct their investigation. Because that investigation is ongoing, Sky Meadow Country Club cannot comment at this time.” In a statement, Gov. Kelly Ayotte said, “Joe and I are praying for the victims and their families of the tragic shooting last night at Sky Meadow Country Club. I want to thank Chief Rourke, the Nashua Police Department, and all of the first responders who reacted quickly to secure the scene and detain the suspect. The Attorney General’s office will continue to assist the Nashua Police Department with this ongoing investigation.”>> View a map of where the shooting took place:>> Subscribe to WMUR’s YouTube channel <<
NASHUA, N.H. —
A man was charged with second-degree murder after a shooting Saturday night at a country club in Nashua in which one person was killed and several other people were injured, some while trying to flee the chaotic scene.
The Attorney General’s Office said Hunter Nadeau, 23, of Nashua, allegedly shot and killed Robert DeCesare, 59, in an attack at the Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua.
An autopsy on DeCesare is scheduled for Monday.
>> See the full press conference from Sunday afternoon
Nadeau, meanwhile, is scheduled to be arraigned at 1 p.m. Monday. Formella said additional charges are likely.
Investigators said Nadeau shot and wounded two other people, including one who worked at the restaurant and one who was a patron. Meanwhile, at least four other people suffered other non-gunshot injuries as they tried to flee.
>> City provides resources, updates to those impacted by shooting
Nashua Fire Rescue said on Sunday that two people who were wounded were taken by vehicle to the Spit Brook Road fire station, where aid was given to one person with a gunshot wound to the face and one person with a hand laceration. Both were taken to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center and the gunshot victim was flown to a Boston hospital, fire authorities said.
Attorney General John Formella said the victim flown to a Boston hospital is in in critical condition, but the victim is said to be stable.
Nashua Fire Rescue said the people who suffered non-gunshot injuries included a broken hand, blunt force trauma, chest pains, panic attacks and lacerations.
More than 100 people were at the country club at the time of the shooting.
Nashua Fire Rescue said they helped about 100 people from the scene to the Spit Brook Road firehouse, most by foot. Some were taken with the department’s UTV.
INFORMATION ABOUT A MOTIVE
There is no known connection between the victim and the shooter, police said.
Formella said Nadeau previously worked at the Sky Meadow Country Club for about a year, though the nature of his employment status when he left was not known.
“It looked like a target, that he was going right for this person,” said witness Tom Bartelson. “I feel terrible for him.”
Bartelson said Nadeau was saying things during the shooting.
“He just came out and said, ‘The children are safe,’ and, ‘Free Palestine,'” Bartelson said.
Despite reports of “free Palestine” comments made by the suspect, investigators said he also made several other statements.
“At this point, the evidence leads us to believe it is more likely that Mr. Nadeau was simply trying to make a number of statements to create chaos in the moment,” Formella said.
Formella said it is believed there is no hate motive in connection with this case.
“At this point, we don’t have any evidence to indicate this was a hate-based act,” Formella said.
PATRONS CREDITED FOR ACTIONS AFTER SHOOTING
Formella said the shooting, while tragic, could have been a much worse situation. He credited the action of patrons after the shooting.
“I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the patrons in the restaurant who acted selflessly and quickly with more care for their fellow citizens than for themselves to help keep this a contained event and minimized this tragedy as much as they could,” Formella said.
INTERVIEW WITH VICTIM’S MOTHER
A woman who spoke to WMUR’s sister station WCVB on Saturday night at the Nashua Police Department identified herself as DeCesare’s mother. Evie O’Rourke said her son jumped in front of his wife and daughter to protect them.
“He kicked the door open, and Rob just went right for him and protected his family,” O’Rourke said. “We don’t know any information more about it other than they have arrested him, but boy, is he going to be missed. He’s just a great guy.”
Law enforcement officers from more than a dozen communities in New Hampshire and Massachusetts responded to the scene when calls about the shooting came in at about 7:30 p.m. In audio obtained by News 9 from Broadcastify.com, dispatchers can be heard alerting police that someone had been shot in the face.
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<
“It’s so shocking that we just can’t believe it. We think everybody’s lying. This can’t have happened,” O’Rourke said. “They were just enjoying a meal at their country club, and in comes the guy, shot the maître d’, and it was right in front of him. And I guess he died right there.”
DeCesare lived at Sky Meadow and was dining there with his family when the shooting occurred.
“His thought was to take care of his family,” O’Rourke said. “And his daughter’s getting married in six weeks, so it’s going to be very tough.”
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND REACTION
Sources told News 9 Investigates that after the shooting, police were looking for a Toyota RAV4 that might have been connected to the shooter. A vehicle fitting that description was seen being towed away near the scene late Saturday night.
In a statement, Sky Meadow Country Club said, “Sky Meadow Country Club is cooperating with law enforcement officials as they conduct their investigation. Because that investigation is ongoing, Sky Meadow Country Club cannot comment at this time.”
In a statement, Gov. Kelly Ayotte said, “Joe and I are praying for the victims and their families of the tragic shooting last night at Sky Meadow Country Club. I want to thank Chief Rourke, the Nashua Police Department, and all of the first responders who reacted quickly to secure the scene and detain the suspect. The Attorney General’s office will continue to assist the Nashua Police Department with this ongoing investigation.”
>> View a map of where the shooting took place: