❓WHAT HAPPENED: A gunman killed one person and injured two others at a wedding reception in New Hampshire, reportedly shouting “Free Palestine” before opening fire.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The alleged shooter, Hunter Nadeau, 23, and the victim, Robert Steven DeCesare, 59, among others at the Sky Meadow Country Club event.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Saturday at the Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua, New Hampshire.
💬KEY QUOTE: “He kicked the door open, and Rob just went right for him and protected his family.” – Evie O’Rourke, DeCesare’s mother.
🎯IMPACT: One death, multiple injuries, and an ongoing investigation into the shooter’s motives, with law enforcement claiming there is no evidence of hate-based intent so far.
Hunter Nadeau, a 23-year-old man arrested for opening fire on a wedding reception at New Hampshire‘s Sky Meadow Country Club—killing one man and wounding two others, with additional attendees injured while attempting to flee—reportedly yelled, “Free Palestine” during the attack. Robert Steven DeCesare, 59 years old, was killed, with at least one witness claiming he appeared to be Nadeau’s intended target.
Following the attack, Nadeau was arrested and charged with murder. The gunman is set to appear in court later today. Despite witness statements, New Hampshire police have stated that there is no known connection between Nadeau and DeCesare.
The uncle of the groom, Tom Bartelson, recounted the attack, stating, “The shooter just came out and said, ‘The children are safe,’ and, ‘Free Palestine.’ We heard about six shots and everybody ducked for cover, and next thing you know, we’re rushed into safe spots.”
New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella (R) noted that Nadeau previously worked at the Sky Meadow Country Club for around one year. Despite the alleged “Free Palestine” comment, Formella claimed that, “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,” adding: “We don’t have any evidence to indicate this was a hate-based act.”
Evie O’Rourke, DeCesare’s mother, described her son’s actions during the attack as heroic, saying, “He kicked the door open, and Rob just went right for him and protected his family… boy, is he going to be missed.”
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