Sky Meadow Country Club suspect Hunter Nadeau’s mugshot released — along with his link to venue and new details of carnage
The gunman who killed a married dad and wounded two other people in a rampage at a New Hampshire country club was a former employee at the venue, according to authorities.
Hunter Nadeau, 23, of Nashua gave a stone-cold stare in his chilling mug shot after allegedly fatally shooting Robert DeCesare, 59, as the victim dined with his wife and daughter at the Sky Meadow Country Club on Saturday evening.
The accused killer was only halted in his murderous rampage when a wedding guest in a room next to the restaurant hit him over the head with a chair, local outlets said.
There is no known connection between the suspect and his victim, said a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Justice.
But Nadeau used to work at the country club — and stopped being employed a year ago, New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella told a Sunday afternoon press conference, according to WCVB.
He allegedly stormed the country club a little after 7:30 p.m. Saturday and shot the maître d’ near the club’s bathrooms, Nashua Police Chief Kevin Rourke told the same press conference.
Authorities say Nadeau then entered the club’s restaurant, The Prime at Sky Meadow, where he shot and killed DeCesare and wounded two more victims, whose medical status is currently unknown.
DeCesare reportedly died after throwing himself in front of his wife and daughter to save their lives.
Nadeau allegedly then tried to enter a wedding which was being held in the main part of the country club, sparking panic as gunshots were heard.
Multiple people suffered minor injuries as the more than 100 guests scrambled for safety, witnesses said.
The crazed killer, dressed all in black and wearing a mask, stormed the wedding and flipped off guests before shouting, “The children are safe!” and, “Free Palestine!” Bartelson told local media.
“Getting together for a dance for the bride and groom, and then all chaos went off,” said Tom Bartelson, the uncle of the groom, to WMUR. “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’s alleged rampage was only brought to an end after a guest hit him with a chair, a witness said.
“He hit him over the head with a chai, and he probably saved a bunch of lives just doing that,” wedding DJ Michael Homewood told WCVB-TV.
Initial reports suggested there were two shooters, sparking a massive manhunt across New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts, although authorities now say Nadeau is the only suspect.
“Video surveillance has confirmed there was only one shooter and they are currently being detained,” police said in a statement on X on Saturday night.
Nadeau was charged with second-degree murder and is expected to face additional charges for the other shooting victims, the statement continued.
He is due to be arraigned at the Ninth Circuit Court in Nashua on Monday.
-With AP