A man who was killed at a country club shooting in New Hampshire has been named as a father who died protecting his family.
Robert Steven DeCesare, 59, was killed in a shooting incident at the Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua on Saturday, September 20.
The Nashua Police Department has arrested and charged Hunter Nadeau, 23, with one count of second-degree murder for allegedly shooting DeCesare.
Highlights
- Robert Steven DeCesare, 59, died protecting his wife and daughter during a shooting at Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua, NH.
- Hunter Nadeau, 23, a former club employee, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder for allegedly shooting DeCesare.
- Nadeau also allegedly wounded two other adults; authorities have not released a motive or confirmed any connection to the victim.
- DeCesare’s family described him as a hero who instinctively faced the shooter to protect loved ones during the incident.
Robert DeCesare was allegedly killed by Hunter Nadeau
Image credits: Facebook
Nadeau is further accused of shooting and wounding two other adults with a handgun during the same incident.
Authorities say there is no known connection between DeCesare and Nadeau and have not released a motive. However, it is understood Nadeau is a former employee of the club.
DeCesare’s widow, Charlene DeCesare, told AP that her husband died while protecting her and their daughter.
“Our lives are forever changed in one moment that would be senseless except for the belief that Rob was trying to protect me and my daughter, and maybe others there too. In our hearts, he’s a hero,” she said.
In a further email to AP, Charlene detailed how she and her daughter were the closest to the shooter when he entered and apparently tried to target an employee.
Image credits: Nashua Police Department
“My husband got caught in the fire trying to protect us,” she said.
Evie O’Rourke, DeCesare’s mother, also told WCVB that her son was looking forward to his daughter’s wedding, scheduled in just six weeks.
“He did what I'm sure was his instinct to do,” O'Rourke told the outlet, adding that DeCesare “was facing the shooter, not trying to get away.”
“I'm still in shock seeing the shooting,” she added, “but I know he did this: His thought was to take care of his family.”
O’Rourke also told AP that her daughter-in-law and granddaughter managed to escape after DeCesare was shot.
“He went down. My daughter-in-law and granddaughter escaped. ... They saw my son go down and they saw blood,” she said.
Image credits: Facebook
The attack unfolded as a wedding was taking place next door to the restaurant.
New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella cited “selfless acts of courage by the patrons in the restaurant who put aside care for their own safety and worked to intervene and stop the shooter.”
Wedding attendees also told of how the incident happened as the bride and groom were preparing to dance.
Tom Bartelson, uncle of the groom, told AP: “Getting together for a dance for the bride and groom and then all chaos went off.”
“We heard about six shots and everybody ducked for cover and next thing you know, we’re rushed into safe spots and things like that.”
Nadeau is expected to be arraigned at the Ninth Circuit Court in Nashua on Monday, September 22.