CONCORD, NH (AP) – Man charged with fatality Filming at a country club in New Hampshire Authorities say restaurant customers acted swiftly to stop the shooters and avoid a worse tragedy, and are set to appear in court on Monday.
Two other people were killed and two others injured in the shooting Saturday at Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua.
Hunter Nadeau, 23, of Nashua, was taken into custody in a nearby neighborhood and charged with second-degree murder. Nadeau, a former club employee, was scheduled to be arrested Monday afternoon.
The shooting killed 59-year-old Robert Juterre Jr., and his wife explained that she saw the shooter step into a room that appears to be targeting restaurant employees. Charlene Juterre and her daughter were closest to him when her husband was shot, she said in an email.
“My husband got caught up in a fire trying to protect us,” she said.
Nadeau made numerous statements during the shooting, appearing to be trying to create confusion at the moment, according to New Hampshire Attorney General John Fulmera, cited “the selfless act of courage by the restaurant patrons who worked to care for their own safety and intervene and stop the shooter.”
Michael Homewood, a DJ who works at a wedding at the club, says someone attacked Nado in a chair, trying to conquer him.
“He slapped him on his head in a chair, and he probably saved a lot of lives just doing it,” Homewood told WCVB-TV.
Country Club owner Rob Parsons said he was heartbroken by the shooting.
“The magazine family has no words to express pain and sad you — and our community feels the murder of Robert. He is a hero,” he said in a statement. “To our own employees and guests who have been shot and recovered, and to the countless others affected, we are here for you and your family.”
Shooter’s motivation is yet to be determined
Investigators were working to determine motives, Gronella said. Police did not immediately answer questions about whether Nadeau was represented by his lawyers and whether his attempt to reach Nadeau’s family was not immediately successful. Authorities said there is no known relationship between Nadeau and Disare.
Authorities initially thought there could be two shooters, but later said there was only one.
“It is likely that additional charges will be brought, including victims of additional shootings,” Formella and Nashua Police Chief Kevin Rourke said in a statement.
One of the surviving gunshot victims was an employee and the other was a patron, Formella said. The employee is hospitalized in a critical but stable state, but the condition of the other victims is unknown, Ferla said. He said at least four other people on the scene suffered non-gun gun injuries that were not expected to be life-threatening.
In addition to the three gunshot victims, others suffered injuries including tears, broken hands and trauma with blunt force, Nashua Fire Rescue said Sunday. The agency said it was mostly on foot and supported around 100 people from the scene to nearby fire stations.
New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayot in a statement Sunday said the Attorney General’s Office was supporting the investigation and that she and her husband are “praying for the victims and their families.”
Nashua is approximately 45 miles (70 km) northwest of Boston, crossing the Massachusetts border.
The victim’s widow speaks
Decesare’s widow said in an email that she was “incredibly hurtful,” and that she was focusing on caring for the couple’s children in the aftermath of the shooting.
“Our life has forever changed to a pointless moment, except for the belief that Rob was trying to protect me and my daughter. Perhaps others are there too. In our minds, he is a hero,” she said.
She said her husband loves golf, poker and pickleball and is loved by his family and community. She also asked the public “beware of the speculation and total nonsense posted about what happened and why it’s happening,” and said, “it’s just making it difficult for everyone involved, including the police who’s trying to do the job.”
Witnesses explain the chaotic scene
Tom Bartelson of Pepperrell, Massachusetts described the chaotic scene that unfolded near his nephew’s wedding. He hears gunmen scream “Free Palestine,” but Zero says there is no evidence that the shooting was “hatred-based conduct.”
“When we gathered for the bride and groom for a dance, all the chaos disappeared,” Bartelson said. “We’ve heard of the six shots, but everyone dived for the cover, and the next thing you know, we’re rushing to a safe place.”
Sophie Flavouris I said WCVB-TV wedding guests just gathered around the dance floor when she heard multiple gunshots and someone yelled “gun!”
“Confusion, screaming, and running,” she said.
Emily Ernst said she saw an all-black gunman.
“He was wearing a mask and I saw him lift his gun and run,” Ernst said. “I ran through the kitchen for my life.”
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Whitt reported from Scarborough, Maine. Associated Press Writer Michael Casey from Nashua, New Hampshire contributed to this report.
