{"id":482,"date":"2025-09-24T09:40:41","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T13:40:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inhishands\/?p=482"},"modified":"2025-09-24T09:40:41","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T13:40:41","slug":"hero-father-dies-protecting-his-family-in-new-hampshire-country-club-shooting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inhishands\/2025\/09\/hero-father-dies-protecting-his-family-in-new-hampshire-country-club-shooting\/","title":{"rendered":"Hero Father Dies Protecting His Family in New Hampshire Country Club Shooting"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Left: Facebook | Right: CBS Boston \/ YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A wedding celebration at a New Hampshire country club turned tragic on Saturday night when a gunman stormed in and opened fire, killing one guest and injuring several others. Witnesses say the masked shooter shouted political slogans before unleashing chaos at the Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua.<\/p>\n

The victim has been identified as 59-year-old Robert Steven DeCesare, a husband and father remembered as a hero who gave his life to protect his family.<\/p>\n

The reception was just about to move into the bride and groom\u2019s first dance when gunfire erupted. \u201cGetting together for a dance for the bride and groom and then all chaos went off,\u201d recalled Tom Bartelson, the groom\u2019s uncle. \u201cWe heard about six shots and everybody ducked for cover and next thing you know we\u2019re rushed into safe spots and things like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to witnesses, the gunman stormed into the wedding, flipped off the guests, and shouted, \u201cthe children are safe\u201d and \u201cFree Palestine.\u201d Officials, however, have not confirmed a motive, and DeCesare\u2019s widow urged the public not to rush to conclusions.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeware the speculation and utter nonsense that is being posted about what happened and why,\u201d Charlene DeCesare told the Associated Press, warning that rumors were \u201conly making it harder for everyone involved, including the police who are trying to do their job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Family members say DeCesare died protecting his wife and daughter, who were sitting closest to the shooter when he entered the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe turned around and stood up and took a bullet for his family. And I\u2019m very proud of him,\u201d said his mother, Evie O\u2019Rourke. \u201cThey saw the guy come in and shoot the manager and another couple of shots. Then Rob stood up, turned around the guy was right there. He went down and they saw his legs under the table and blood \u2026 and they had to run for their life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Charlene DeCesare shared that her husband\u2019s final act was to shield her and their daughter. \u201cOur lives are forever changed in one moment that would be senseless except for the belief that Rob was trying to protect me and my daughter, and maybe others there too. In our hearts, he\u2019s a hero,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n

Their daughter, who is engaged to be married in November, will now walk down the aisle without her dad. \u201cShe\u2019ll be getting married without her dad. He was a great guy, an awesome husband, hard worker, a great son,\u201d O\u2019Rourke said.<\/p>\n

Police identified the shooter as 23-year-old Hunter Nadeau, a former employee of the club. He has been charged with second-degree murder and is expected to face additional charges for the two others who were shot. Authorities confirmed he acted alone, saying, \u201cVideo surveillance has confirmed there was only one shooter and they are currently being detained.\u201d<\/p>\n

The terrifying scene lasted less than a minute before Nadeau fled the building, threatened others outside, and was later arrested.<\/p>\n

Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess expressed grief while praising law enforcement. \u201cOur hearts go out to the families of those killed or injured. Thank you the Nashua PD for quick work in catching the \u2018person of interest.\u2019 This truly can happen anywhere,\u201d he wrote on Facebook.<\/p>\n

Rob Parsons, owner of the country club, also paid tribute: \u201cThis was the heinous act of a coward who will be held to account for what he did. Rob was a hero, and I am profoundly grateful for the courageous acts of patrons and employees who acted to stop further tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the DeCesare family faces unimaginable grief, the Christian community can come alongside them in prayer. Scripture reminds us in John 15:13: \u201cGreater love has no one than this: to lay down one\u2019s life for one\u2019s friends.\u201d By all accounts, Robert DeCesare lived out that truth in his final moments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A wedding celebration at a New Hampshire country club turned tragic on Saturday night when a gunman stormed in and opened fire, killing one guest and injuring several others. Witnesses say the masked shooter shouted political slogans before unleashing chaos at the Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua. The victim has been identified as 59-year-old…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":462,"featured_media":491,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nHero Father Dies Protecting His Family in New Hampshire Country Club Shooting<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u201cHero father Robert DeCesare died protecting his wife and daughter during a tragic shooting at a New Hampshire country club wedding.\u201d\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inhishands\/2025\/09\/hero-father-dies-protecting-his-family-in-new-hampshire-country-club-shooting\/\" 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