“As devastated and traumatized as we are feeling right now, I know this has to be incredibly hard for everyone at Sky,” Charlene DeCesare said in a statement that was read aloud by the country club’s owner, Rob Parsons, at a news conference on Monday.
“What we need to take from this is just what an incredible community we have here, the outpouring of love, support, food, even offers to sit with me and make sure I’m not alone — the little things and the big things that are beyond words. The people of Sky are my heart right now, and I’m forever grateful.”
She had previously released a statement sharing her memories of her husband to ABC News.
The alleged shooter, 23-year-old Hunter Nadeau, waived a formal arraignment and made a brief court appearance via video conference from jail on Monday in Ninth District Court in Nashua, where a probable cause hearing was set for Oct. 1.
Nadeau, who previously worked at the Nashua country club, is charged with second-degree murder. Additional charges are expected in connection with the shootings of two other people, who were seriously injured but are expected to survive, officials said.
Nadeau did not show emotion on video screen and spoke only when spoken to by the judge. He said “OK” when the judge said a probable cause hearing would be scheduled and responded in the affirmative when asked if he had spoken with counsel.
After the arraignment, senior assistant attorney general Peter Hinckley said he could not confirm witness reports that the shooter said “Free Palestine” during the attack.
Investigators are still assessing information from dozens of witnesses, he said.
“We don’t want to be erroneous in information we provide,” Hinckley said, noting that authorities had initially incorrectly reported there were two suspected shooters.
Hinckley said he was not able to confirm or refute whether political ideology played a role in the shooting and said the motive remains under investigation, he said.
Prosecutors filed a statement of probable cause and supporting documents but they were sealed by court order, Hinckley said.
An autopsy by the state’s medical examiner’s office determined DeCesare died from multiple gunshot wounds and ruled the manner of his death as a homicide.
Authorities said there is no known connection between DeCesare and Nadeau, who allegedly entered the club Saturday evening and fired shots at a host near the restaurant before opening fire inside the steakhouse. Emergency responders were called the country club at 7:20 p.m.
Law enforcement officers were able to find and arrest Nadeau within 30 minutes of the shooting. Officials confirmed Nadeau used a handgun, but did not disclose if it was registered or licensed to him.
In February, Nadeau was charged with misdemeanor simple assault for allegedly shoving a manager at a Shaw’s supermarket in Nashua, according to court records. A manager had approached Nadeau and a woman believed to be his girlfriend to assist with the self-checkout process late on Feb. 16 when Nadeau allegedly pushed him to the ground, the records state.
Nadeau told investigators he didn’t feel comfortable with the manager approaching his girlfriend, so he placed his hand up without intending to knock him over, according to a police report.
Nadeau’s lawyer reached an agreement with police to defer prosecution for one year if Nadeau maintained good behavior and stayed away from the victim and Shaw’s stores. A judge approved the agreement on Sept. 4, according to court records.
Parsons, the owner of Sky Meadow, hailed DeCesare as a “hero” in a statement that also described the alleged shooter as a “coward who will be held to account for what he did.”
Parsons said an employee and guest were wounded in the attack.
“To the DeCesare family, there are no words to express the pain and sorrow you — and our community — are feeling over Robert’s murder. He is a hero,” Parsons said in the statement, which he read aloud to reporters after Monday’s court hearing. ”To our very own employee and our guest who were shot and are recovering, and to the countless others impacted, we’re here for you and your families. Always.”
“We will not let the cowardly acts of this perpetrator define us nor our community,” he added.
The club has received “thousands of messages of support” in the wake of the shooting, he said.
He expressed his gratitude to emergency responders and law enforcement for their response, the quality of medical care the victims received, and the speed with which Nadeau was taken into custody.
“Our heart goes out to you, and we’re very thankful,” Parson said.
Parsons said he spoke with Charlene DeCesare on Monday morning.
“The strength that she and her family have displayed throughout all of this is nothing short of remarkable,” Parsons said. “I don’t know how she’s doing it. She’s a remarkable woman.”
DeCesare had recently moved from Salem with his wife of 30 years to a home within the Sky Meadows neighborhood. On Monday, Charlene DeCesare expressed gratitude to her neighbors and the broader, saying she has no plans to move away.
“This is my home and I’m staying,” she said.
John R. Ellement can be reached at john.ellement@globe.com. Follow him @JREbosglobe. Steven Porter can be reached at steven.porter@globe.com. Follow him @reporterporter. Shannon Larson can be reached at shannon.larson@globe.com. Follow her @shannonlarson98. Nick Stoico can be reached at nick.stoico@globe.com.
