Hunter Nadeau
Hunter Nadeau
Hunter Nadeau (born c. 2002) is an American Nashua, New Hampshire resident charged with second-degree murder in connection with a September 20, 2025, shooting at the Sky Meadow Country Club during a wedding reception, where he reportedly shouted "Free Palestine" and other anti-Israel slogans amid the attack. The incident has been cited as evidence of rising antisemitic violence fueled by pro-Palestinian rhetoric in the United States, amid heightened tensions following the Israel–Hamas war.
Early life and background
Nadeau, aged 23 at the time of the shooting, was a former employee of the Sky Meadow Country Club, where he had worked as a professional painter. Public records indicate he had previously resided in New Mexico, as reflected in his social media profiles. Little is publicly known about his education or family background, though local reports describe him as a Nashua native with no prior criminal history mentioned in connection with the event.
Shooting incident
On the evening of September 20, 2025, Nadeau allegedly entered the Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua, New Hampshire, during a private wedding reception attended by approximately 100 guests. Around 7:30 p.m., he reportedly stalked across the dance floor, armed with a handgun, and opened fire, firing multiple shots in a targeted manner. Eyewitnesses described Nadeau as appearing out of place, dressed casually and moving purposefully toward his primary target.
The attack resulted in the death of 59-year-old Robert Steven DeCesare, an HVAC industry veteran, entrepreneur, and founder of ProTrade Staffing, a mechanical trades staffing agency. DeCesare, who had no known connection to Nadeau, was shot and killed on the spot; his family later described the loss as devastating, with his mother, Evie O'Rourke, recounting the chaos as her son "went down" while his wife and granddaughter fled. Two other adults were wounded in the shooting and transported to nearby hospitals, though their conditions were not immediately life-threatening.
During the assault, Nadeau shouted "Free Palestine!" and "the children are safe," phrases interpreted by witnesses and commentators as invoking pro-Palestinian and potentially antisemitic themes. The outburst occurred as guests screamed and sought cover, with some hiding under tables amid the rapid gunfire described as "pop, pop, pop." A heroic guest intervened by striking Nadeau over the head with a chair, causing him to drop his weapon and enabling his immediate apprehension by responding officers.
Initial police reports erroneously suggested two armed suspects, prompting a brief shelter-in-place order in neighboring areas, but surveillance footage confirmed Nadeau acted alone. The Nashua Police Department and New Hampshire Department of Justice led the investigation, with assistance from state police and SWAT units. Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess praised the swift response, stating such tragedies "can happen anywhere" but emphasizing community resilience.
Legal proceedings
Nadeau was arrested at the scene and charged with one count of second-degree murder in the death of DeCesare; additional charges for the wounding of the two other victims are expected. He was scheduled for arraignment on September 22, 2025, in Hillsborough County Superior Court. Authorities have stated there is no known personal motive linking Nadeau to DeCesare, though the pro-Palestinian shouts have drawn scrutiny regarding potential ideological drivers.
Reactions and broader context
The shooting elicited strong condemnation from pro-Israel figures, who framed Nadeau's actions as part of a disturbing pattern of violence incited by "Free Palestine" rhetoric. Leo Terrell, leader of the Trump administration’s Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, described the slogan as a "violent virus attempting to take over our country" on social media, questioning how many more such incidents must occur before decisive action is taken. The event was linked to other recent attacks, including the May 21, 2025, shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., where suspect Elias Rodriguez killed two Israeli Embassy employees while shouting "Free Palestine"; a self-immolation and shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis by Robin Westman, whose journal contained antisemitic rants about "filthy Zionist Jews" and calls to "free Palestine"; and an arson attack on Josh Shapiro's residence in Pennsylvania by, where the perpetrator Coby Balmer claimed to act on behalf of "Palestinians".
U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) connected the Nashua shooting to this wave of political violence, urging heightened vigilance against hate-motivated acts. While local officials downplayed any explicit ideological motive, stating Nadeau may have used the slogans to "sow chaos," Jewish and pro-Israel organizations highlighted the incident as symptomatic of escalating antisemitism in America, exacerbated by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The attack occurred against a backdrop of U.S. national security alerts over political violence, including the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.