“At this point, the evidence leads us to believe that it is more likely that Mr. Nadeau was simply trying to make a number of statements to create chaos in the moment,” Formella said. “We don’t have any evidence to indicate that this was a hate-based act.”
The incident occurred at the Sky Meadow Country Club when Nadeau entered, fired shots at a host near the restaurant and opened fire inside the steakhouse. He has been arrested and charged with one count of second-degree murder for “a reckless” shooting. Additional charges are expected in connection with the two other shooting victims.
The deceased victim was identified as Robert Steven DeCesare, 59, who had recently moved from Salem with his wife of 30 years to a home near the country club.
DeCesare was having dinner with his wife and mother when he stepped up to stop the shooter, family told the Globe.
Authorities said Nadeau last worked at the club a year ago and didn’t disclose if he was fired.
Nadeau is expected to be arraigned Monday in the Ninth Circuit Court in Nashua. Officials said there is no known connection between Nadeau and DeCesare, and investigators are still working to determine a motive.
DeCesare and his wife were having dinner with his mother, Evie O’Rourke, when the shooter entered, his cousin Becca O’Rourke told the Globe.
“I’m in complete disbelief,” said Becca O’Rourke, 27. “Their kids are in college. They had a beautiful house on the lake in Salem and just downsized to a new home in Nashua. They were just having dinner when the person came in and shot them up and my cousin lost his life trying to protect his family and I don’t expect anything less from him.”
Becca O’Rourke said she can’t see a connection as to why this happened.
“Whoever did this has no idea the ripple effect that they’ve caused,” said Becca O’Rourke, who lives near the club. “My aunt is almost 80 years old, and she has to bury her son. It’s just not okay, like gun violence is out of control, and somebody lost their lives for no reason.”
Nashua Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Michael Curran confirmed to the Globe Sunday that two victims were taken to the Spit Brook Road fire station in Nashua following the shooting. Curran said that one of the victims transported to the medical center was undergoing treatment for a gunshot wound to the face. The other victim, he said, was being treated for a laceration wound to the hand.
“They were then treated and then transported by ambulance to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center,” Curran said.
Four victims injured in the chaos of exiting the building do not have life-threatening injuries, officials said.
The country club was also hosting a wedding when the incident unfolded. Guests who had fled the country club headed to the nearby Sheraton Nashua Hotel to be reunited with others who had been separated during the chaos. By noon Sunday, the hotel was nearly empty and workers said many guests had departed Nashua around 2:30 a.m.
Globe staff Lila Hempeledgers, Katie Cressman and Adam Sennott, contributed. Materials from previous globe coverage and wire services were used in this report.
Sarah Rahal can be reached at sarah.rahal@globe.com. Follow her on X @SarahRahal_ or Instagram @sarah.rahal. Marcela Rodrigues can be reached at marcela.rodrigues@globe.com.
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