Suspect Charged with Murder in Deadly New Hampshire Country Club Shooting

Fatal Shooting Rocks Nashua Country Club

Nashua, New Hampshire – A deadly shooting at the Sky Meadow Country Club on Saturday, September 20, 2025, resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries, leading to the arrest of a 23-year-old suspect. Authorities have identified the deceased as Robert Steven DeCesare, 59, and the alleged shooter as Hunter Nadeau, a former employee of the club. Nadeau has been charged with one count of second-degree murder, with additional charges anticipated.

The incident unfolded around 8 p.m. ET in the club's PRIME restaurant, adjacent to a wedding reception. Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with the gunman reportedly shouting phrases such as 'the children are safe' and 'Free Palestine' before and during the gunfire.

Heroic Actions Amidst Chaos

According to officials and witness accounts, the shooting, which lasted less than a minute, could have been far more tragic were it not for the swift and courageous actions of patrons. Robert Steven DeCesare, who was dining with his wife and daughter, reportedly lunged at the gunman, sacrificing his life to protect his family. His mother, Evie O'Rourke, stated, 'My son died saving his family.' The owner of Sky Meadow Country Club, Rob Parsons, later issued a statement calling DeCesare a 'hero.'

Further intervention came from other guests, with one individual striking the shooter with a chair, causing him to drop his weapon. This act is credited by authorities and witnesses, including wedding DJ Michael Homewood, with preventing further casualties. The suspect then fled the immediate area but was apprehended in a nearby neighborhood within 30 minutes of the shooting.

Victims and Ongoing Investigation

In addition to DeCesare's death, two other adults sustained gunshot wounds. One victim, an employee working as a wedding host, was shot in the face and transported to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, where they are in critical but stable condition. Another customer in the PRIME restaurant was also wounded. At least four other individuals suffered various injuries, including a broken hand and cuts, during the pandemonium.

Investigators, led by New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella and Nashua Police Department Chief Kevin Rourke, are actively working to determine a motive for the attack. Authorities have stated there is no known connection between the suspect, Hunter Nadeau, and the deceased victim, Robert Steven DeCesare. Nadeau, a resident of Nashua, was a former employee of the Sky Meadow Country Club, having ceased employment approximately a year prior to the incident. He is expected to be arraigned at the Ninth Circuit Court in Nashua.