Tragedy Strikes New Hampshire Wedding: A Community in Mourning
A joyous wedding celebration at Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua, New Hampshire turned into tragedy on Saturday night when 59-year-old Robert “Rob” Steven DeCesare was fatally shot. What began as a festive gathering with dancing for the bride and groom quickly descended into chaos when Hunter Nadeau, a 23-year-old former employee of the club, allegedly opened fire on the crowd. Within minutes of the shooting, which lasted less than a minute, Nadeau was detained and now faces second-degree murder charges. The violent interruption left not only DeCesare dead but also wounded two others—a guest and an employee—while four additional people suffered non-gunshot injuries during the panic. “We heard about six shots and everybody ducked for cover,” recounted Tom Bartelson, who was attending his nephew’s wedding when the shooting occurred.
Initial reports from witnesses claimed the shooter shouted “free Palestine” during the attack, sparking speculation about potential motives. However, New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella quickly addressed these claims, stating that while the suspect made “a number of statements during the event,” authorities “don’t have any evidence at this time that would indicate that Mr. Nadeau was motivated by hate-based motivation.” Instead, Formella suggested that the evidence points to Nadeau “simply trying to make a number of statements to create chaos in the moment.” This distinction is important as investigators work to understand the true nature of this seemingly random act of violence that has devastated multiple families and the wider community. Officials have confirmed there was no known connection between Nadeau and DeCesare.
Behind the headlines and statistics is the profound human loss experienced by the DeCesare family. Rob’s wife Charlene described him as a devoted husband, father, and friend whose life was cut tragically short just weeks before significant family celebrations. “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,” she shared in a heartfelt statement. The couple had recently moved to Nashua just two years ago after Rob grew up in Salem, New Hampshire. His upcoming milestones—walking his daughter down the aisle at her fall wedding, celebrating his 60th birthday, and marking his 27th wedding anniversary with Charlene—will now never come to pass. “Rob’s dream was to someday retire, sell everything, and live on a boat in the Caribbean,” Charlene revealed, adding poignantly, “That dream and all of the others will never come true.”
Amid their grief, the DeCesare family has found some comfort in the overwhelming support from their community. Charlene expressed deep gratitude for the kindness shown by the people of Sky Meadow, calling them “beyond amazing and exactly why we moved here.” She also praised the “stellar kindness and professionalism” of the Nashua Police Department and the Attorney General’s office throughout this ordeal. However, she cautioned against the spread of speculation and misinformation about the incident, noting that such rumors only make the situation harder for everyone involved, including law enforcement. When asked about the suspect’s upcoming arraignment, Charlene emphasized that her family is focusing on healing: “We are focusing on the love and support of family and friends, trying to get whatever measure of healing we can. Our energy is here.”
The Sky Meadow Country Club community has also rallied in response to this tragedy. Owner Rob Parsons described DeCesare as a “hero” in a statement released Sunday and expressed gratitude “for the courageous efforts of patrons and employees who acted selflessly to prevent further tragedy.” His condemnation of the shooting as “the heinous act of a coward who will be held to account for what he did” reflects the anger and determination for justice shared by many in the aftermath of such senseless violence. Parsons also provided reassurance that the two wounded individuals—one guest and one employee—were recovering from their injuries. This solidarity demonstrates how communities often find strength in unity when confronted with devastating events that challenge their sense of safety and normalcy.
As Nashua processes this shocking incident, the legal proceedings against Hunter Nadeau have begun to take shape. Charged with second-degree murder in DeCesare’s killing, Nadeau was scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, September 22, at the Ninth Circuit Court in Nashua, with additional charges expected related to the other victims. The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office and Nashua police continue their investigation, urging anyone with information to contact the Nashua Police Department. For the DeCesare family, their focus remains on supporting each other through this unimaginable loss. As Charlene poignantly expressed, “My focus is on my kids and everyone else who loved Rob and is in pain right now.” While they trust that “the right people are working hard on our behalf, and that justice will be served,” they face the difficult reality that no legal outcome can truly compensate for the loss of their beloved husband, father, and friend whose life was so suddenly and senselessly cut short.
