Independent New Hampshire Journalism · Northfield, NHCorrection and update, Sept. 19, 2026, 2:25 p.m. EDT: An earlier version of this article said the gunfire broke out at a wedding reception, that bystanders subdued the shooter, and that two people were injured, and one paragraph ended mid-sentence. Authorities and witnesses said the shooting happened in the club’s restaurant, next to a wedding reception; a man struck the shooter with a chair, the shooter dropped his gun and fled, and police found him in a nearby neighborhood within about 30 minutes; two people were shot and four others were hurt (CNN). Those passages have been corrected and the unfinished sentence completed. Update: in January 2026 a Hillsborough County grand jury indicted Hunter Nadeau on charges including first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder and two counts of first-degree assault (NHPR). In September 2026 his lawyers gave notice of an insanity defense, and his jury trial is set for June 2027 (Concord Monitor). Nadeau is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
A gunman opened fire in the restaurant at Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua, New Hampshire, on the evening of Sept. 20, 2025, while a wedding reception was under way in the next room. One man was killed, two people were shot and wounded, and four others were hurt in the chaos, authorities said. Officials credited restaurant patrons’ quick actions with preventing a greater tragedy. Police arrested Hunter Nadeau of Nashua, then 23, within about 30 minutes.
Key Takeaways
- One person, identified as 59-year-old Robert Steven DeCesare, was killed.
- Two other individuals sustained gunshot wounds.
- Hunter Nadeau, then 23, was arrested that night and charged with second-degree murder. A grand jury later indicted him on charges including first-degree murder.
- Authorities said statements Nadeau made during the attack appeared meant to create chaos, and found no evidence of a hate motive.
- Witnesses said a man struck the shooter with a chair, and the shooter dropped his gun and fled.
The Incident Unfolds
Wedding guests in the club’s ballroom heard what some first took for popping balloons coming from the restaurant next door. Witnesses described panic as guests scrambled for safety, some hiding under tables and others running for the doors or the kitchen. Robert Steven DeCesare, who was having dinner in the restaurant with his wife and daughter, was killed, according to his mother and authorities.
Suspect Apprehended, Charges Filed
Police found and arrested Hunter Nadeau, a former employee of the country club who had not worked there for about a year, in a nearby neighborhood. He was first charged with second-degree murder in DeCesare’s death. Attorney General John Formella said Nadeau made several statements during the attack that investigators believed were meant to create chaos, and that there was no indication the shooting was hate-motivated. Court records unsealed in February 2026 say Nadeau told a Nashua detective he wanted to “punish the wealthy because they were not helping the poor,” the Concord Monitor reported.
Acts of Bravery Amidst Chaos
Eyewitness accounts highlight the courage of patrons who intervened. A wedding guest told WHDH that a man hit the shooter over the head with a chair, forcing him to drop his gun, and the shooter then fled through the kitchen, CNN reported. Formella thanked police and restaurant patrons who acted “selflessly and quickly,” saying that while the incident was tragic, “it was not nearly as tragic as it could have been.”
Case Status
In January 2026, a Hillsborough County grand jury indicted Nadeau on alternative counts of first-degree and second-degree murder in DeCesare’s death, two counts of attempted murder and two counts of first-degree assault (Concord Monitor). In September 2026, his lawyers filed notice that they will argue he is not criminally responsible because of a mental disease or defect. Under New Hampshire law the defense carries the burden of proving insanity. His jury trial is scheduled for the weeks of June 14 and June 21, 2027 (Concord Monitor). Nadeau is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Granite State Report covered the indictment in a follow-up story.
Sources
- New Hampshire shooting during wedding leads to arrest, AP News.
- Shooting at New Hampshire country club leaves 1 dead and several wounded, AP News.
- Multiple shot at New Hampshire country club; suspect in custody, FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul.
- 1 killed and 2 wounded in shooting at New Hampshire country club, NBC News.
- Hunter Nadeau charged with murder after shooting at a Nashua, New Hampshire country club leaves 1 dead, at least 6 injured, CNN.
- Grand jury brings additional charges in Nashua country club shooting, NHPR, Jan. 15, 2026.
- Former employee indicted on murder charge in Nashua country club shooting, Concord Monitor, Jan. 15, 2026.
- Court documents reveal Nashua country club shooting suspect intended to ‘punish the wealthy’, Concord Monitor, Feb. 26, 2026.
- Nashua country club shooter to plead insanity defense, Concord Monitor, Sept. 17, 2026.
Corrections: Granite State Report corrects verified errors promptly and appends a dated note identifying what changed and when. The corrections policy and the corrections register are public, and correction notes are never removed.
