The slain victim of Saturday’s country-club shooting in New Hampshire threw himself in front of his wife and daughter to save them from the deranged gunman, his mother has revealed.
Robert DeCesare, 59, was having dinner with his family at the Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua when police say 23-year-old Hunter Nadeau, who used to work at the facility, stormed in with a handgun.
“[Nadeau] kicked the door open, and Rob just went right for him and protected his family,” DeCesare’s mother, Evie O’Rourke, told WMUR.
New Hampshire country-club shooting victim Robert DeCesare (here with his wife) died saving his family, his mother said. Instagram/Charlene DeCesare
DeCesare’s mother, Evie O’Rourke, said she can’t fathom that her son is dead. WMURTwo more people were shot and wounded by Nadeau, while others were hurt as they fled the carnage, authorities said.
More than 100 people were at Sky Meadow at the time, many for a wedding in a space at the club next to its restaurant.
Authorities said there is no known link between DeCesare and his killer, although they have not offered a motive for the attack. The bystander said Nadeau yelled, “Free Palestine!” during the shooting.
DeCesare’s mother said she still can’t fathom that her son is dead.
DeCesare is seen with his son Steven, daughter Makayla and wife Charlene in an undated photo. Instagram/Charlene DeCesare“It’s so shocking that we just can’t believe it. We think everybody’s lying. This can’t have happened. They were just enjoying a meal at their country club, and in comes the guy, shot the maître d, and it was right in front of him. And I guess he died right there,” she said.
“His thought was to take care of his family. And his daughter’s getting married in six weeks, so it’s going to be very tough,” the victim’s grieving mother said.
“We don’t know any information more about it other than they have arrested [Nadeau], but boy, is [Robert] going to be missed. He’s just a great guy,” she said.
DeCesare was having dinner at the Sky Meadow Country Club when the gunman entered the building. Facebook/Tom Ryan
DeCesare was the only person killed in the attack. Facebook/Robert DeCesare JrNadeau was detained at the scene.
While authorities said they have no indication DeCesare was the suspect’s target, a witness said that appeared to be the case, “that he was going right for this person.
“I feel terrible for [DeCesare],” said the bystander, Tom Bartelson, to WMUR, adding that the shooter yelled pro-Palestinian slogans during the shooting.
Scene pictures show the aftermath of the shooting at the country club in New Hampshire. Jeffrey Hastings/FOM Media
DeCesare had no known connection with his killer. Linkedin/Rob DeCesare“He just came out and said, ‘The children are safe!’ and, ‘Free Palestine!’ ” Bartelson added.
An SUV matching Nadeau’s possible vehicle, a Toyota RAV4, was seen being towed away close to Sky Meadow on Saturday night.
Nadeau has been charged with second-degree murder and is set to be arraigned Monday.
