A wedding celebration in Nashua, New Hampshire, ended in tragedy Saturday night when a gunman opened fire at the Sky Meadow Country Club, killing one person and wounding two others.
The shooting drew national attention, not only for the violence itself but also for how it was initially covered [1] by NBC News.
Authorities identified the suspect as 23-year-old Hunter Nadeau, who was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said the attack claimed the life of 59-year-old Robert Steven DeCesare. Two others were injured.
Witnesses reported that Nadeau shouted “Free Palestine” as he began firing.
Mass shooting in New Hampshire — the terrorist yelled “free Palestine” and then committed terrorism.
“At least three people were taken to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center by a Bearcat. One man was reportedly shot in the face. The country club was hosting a function and… pic.twitter.com/EyF05bfPeT [2]
— Marina Medvin (@MarinaMedvin) September 21, 2025 [3]
Formella acknowledged the suspect made “a number of statements” during the attack, including the political slogan, but said investigators have not yet determined whether the crime was motivated by hate.
NBC News initially reported the incident without noting Nadeau’s words.
This story consists of 20 paragraphs, and at no point in any of them does NBC relate that the shooter shouted “free Palestine!” before he opened fire. To find that out, I had to read the British left-wing newspaper, The Guardian. https://t.co/5SVFsz5dg7 [4]
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) September 21, 2025 [5]
Hours later, the network updated its coverage to move the suspect’s “Free Palestine” statement higher up in the report. Critics said the delay minimized the political nature of the crime.
The shooting occurred as guests were dancing at the wedding reception.
Many initially mistook the gunfire for balloons popping.
Panic spread as people scrambled for safety before realizing an active shooter was inside the venue.
Emergency crews arrived quickly, and Nadeau was taken into custody without further incident.
Attorney General Formella said there is no known connection between the suspect and the victim, DeCesare.
Officials are continuing to investigate Nadeau’s background and the weapon used in the attack. Additional charges may follow.
The venue, Sky Meadow Country Club, is a popular location in southern New Hampshire for weddings and events.
Witnesses described chaos as the celebration was disrupted by sudden gunfire.
BREAKING: 1 dead, multiple injured at a New Hampshire country club after a radical leftist screamed “Free Free Palestine” and started shooting. Leftists are all homicidal sociopaths. pic.twitter.com/WHWZTDMReN [6]
— Dapper Detective (@Dapper_Det) September 21, 2025 [7]
Law enforcement provided crisis support to guests and families in attendance.
The tragedy comes amid heightened national concern over politically motivated violence.
The reported “Free Palestine” statement from the suspect fueled questions about radicalization and ideology.
Officials said they are working with federal authorities to determine whether political extremism played a role.
NBC News’ handling of the story drew sharp criticism from commentators who argued the network was reluctant to highlight a political motive linked to a left-wing cause.
The initial omission of the slogan, which was placed deep into its first article, was cited as evidence of selective reporting.
Formella reiterated Sunday that investigators are reviewing all aspects of the suspect’s statements and actions.
“We recognize the impact this horrific incident has had on all who were present,” he said, adding that support resources are being made available to those affected.
Funeral arrangements for DeCesare have not yet been announced.
The two injured victims remain under medical care. Nadeau is being held pending further legal proceedings.
The case remains under investigation by state and federal authorities, who are working to determine both motive and any potential broader ties. NBC News has since updated its reporting, but the debate over its initial coverage highlights the growing scrutiny over how politically charged incidents are presented by national outlets.