
'He probably saved a bunch of lives from doing that.' These words from wedding DJ Michael Homewood capture the extraordinary courage shown by ordinary people when terror struck Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua on Saturday evening.
What began as a joyous wedding celebration descended into chaos when a former employee opened fire, killing one heroic father and wounding two others before guests fought back with remarkable bravery.
Former Employee Brings Terror To Wedding Celebration
The nightmare unfolded at approximately 7:30 p.m. inside the Prime restaurant at Sky Meadow Country Club, where more than 100 wedding guests had gathered for an evening of celebration.
Hunter Nadeau, 23, a former club employee who hadn't worked there for about a year, entered the venue and opened fire with a handgun.
The attack lasted less than one minute, but its impact will resonate through the tight-knit Nashua community for years to come. New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella confirmed that Nadeau had been charged with second-degree murder, with additional charges expected.
'This community has been shaken to its core,' Formella said after a shooting at the Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua that left one man dead and two others wounded, according to the Associated Press.
Swift Response Prevents Greater Tragedy
Nashua police responded within minutes to multiple 911 calls, quickly establishing that initial reports of multiple shooters were false. Video surveillance confirmed Nadeau acted alone in what investigators believe was an attempt to 'create chaos in the moment' rather than advance any political agenda.
Despite witness reports of Nadeau shouting 'Free Palestine' during the attack, Formella stated: 'We don't have any evidence at this time that would indicate that Mr. Nadeau was motivated by a hate-based motivation.'
Wedding Guest's Chair Becomes A Life-Saving Weapon
In those terrifying moments, extraordinary heroism emerged from ordinary circumstances. A teacher from Lowell attending the wedding witnessed the critical intervention that likely prevented a massacre. 'I was talking to a gentleman in there who took a chair, hit him over the head, he dropped the gun, and the man fled,' she told CBS News.
The unnamed hero's quick thinking created the chaos needed for others to escape and for the wounded gunman to flee through the kitchen area, blood streaming from his head wound.
Father Dies Protecting His Family In Final Act Of Love
The shooting's sole fatality was 59-year-old Robert Steven DeCesare, whose final moments embodied paternal love and sacrifice.
His mother, Evie O'Rourke, revealed to the Associated Press that her son had been dining with his wife and daughter when the gunfire erupted.
'He went down. My daughter-in-law and granddaughter escaped,' O'Rourke said, her words carrying the weight of a family's grief and gratitude. DeCesare's instinct to shield his loved ones cost him his life but saved theirs.
Two other victims suffered gunshot wounds - a restaurant patron and an employee. The injured employee was airlifted to Massachusetts General Hospital in critical but stable condition.
Community United In Aftermath
The response exemplified Nashua's resilience. Fire rescue teams assisted approximately 100 people to safety, whilst a reunification centre at a nearby hotel helped separated families reconnect. Mental health counsellors provided immediate support for traumatised guests.
Located just 45 miles northwest of Boston, this community of 92,000 residents had never experienced such violence. Yet their response - from the wedding guest who wielded a chair as a weapon to the first responders who prevented further tragedy - demonstrated the courage that emerges when ordinary people face extraordinary circumstances.