One person was killed and several others were injured in a mass shooting that broke out during a wedding reception in a New Hampshire country club.
Shots rang out Saturday evening inside Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua, prompting a large-scale response from first responders.
Nashua police initially reported that two armed suspects fled the scene, but it was later confirmed there was only one shooter.
Authorities said a ‘person of interest’ is in custody, though no arrests had been made as of 11:45pm EST.
According to WHDH 7 News, the shooter was reportedly stopped by a man who was dining at the club’s restaurant. The diner claimed that he struck the gunman over the head with a chair.
The witness stated he heard a loud noise while preparing to leave but dismissed it as a balloon popping at the large wedding occurring at the venue.
He explained hearing two more harrowing pops before spotting a man armed with a gun.
‘I got up immediately and hit him in the head with a chair and another guy tackled him,’ the unidentified witness told the outlet.
During what is believed to have been a wedding reception in New Hampshire, a mass shooting erupted, resulting in one death and several injuries.
Shots rang out inside Sky Meadow County Club (pictured) in Nashua on Saturday evening, prompting a large scale response from first responders
Initially, police reported that two armed suspects fled the scene, but later confirmed around 9:20pm EST that there was only one shooter, who had been detained.
‘When I hit him in the head with a chair, he dropped his gun and ran,’ he added.
It’s still unverified if the gunman fired inside the country club’s dining room or the wedding reception area, but the witness noted that the shooter entered through the main entrance.
He said that after shots were fired, wedding guests began pouring out of their designated room, confused and uncertain about what had just occurred.
‘It was nothing to do with the wedding,’ the man told WHDH 7.
‘He just walked into the main entrance, shot one person, and left two bullet casings in the hallway before entering the restaurant and continuing to shoot,’ he recounted.
The Attorney General’s Office and Nashua police held a brief press conference on Saturday evening, confirming that a male victim had died in the shooting, as reported by WMUR News.
At least half a dozen others were rushed to nearby hospitals, though the total number of injured victims remains unclear.
Officials said that in the chaotic aftermath, several injuries – both gunshot-related and otherwise – were reported. Many people frantically fled the country club and sought help at nearby fire stations.
One person has died in the shooting, with at least a half a dozen others people rushed to nearby hospitals
Despite authorities confirming a single shooter, guests at the wedding said that two people entered the dining room, and at least one of them opened fire
Sophie Flabouris, of Lowell, was attending the wedding when she heard several shots. Her immediate reaction was to hide under a table, according to WCVB News.
During the reception, Flabouris said she heard ‘pop, pop, pop, pop, pop’ coming from the neighboring restaurant.
She then heard someone shout, ‘Gun, run!’ before people began screaming and fleeing.
‘Some people ran out the door. Some people ran into the kitchen,’ Flabouris told the outlet. ‘People ran all different directions.’
A heavy police presence was on the scene, with over nine ambulances reported, multiple law enforcement units responding, and SWAT teams deployed.
Investigators reportedly searched for a Toyota RAV4 linked to the shooting, which was later found near the scene and removed, according to WMUR.
Dunstable Emergency Management in Massachusetts ordered residents to shelter in place, but the order has since been lifted.
A post to their social media said: ‘This order is being implemented out of caution in connection with an active threat incident at Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua.
‘Please remain indoors, lock all doors and windows, do not allow anyone into your home unless you know them personally, stay off the roads in the affected area to allow emergency responders access, and monitor official town communication channels for updates.’
Authorities have designated The Sheraton Hotel at 11 Tara Boulevard as a reunification site.
New Hampshire Representative Maggie Goodlander said in a post to her X: ‘I’m closely monitoring the tragic reports of a shooting tonight.
‘My heart is with the victims, their families, and the entire Nashua community as we await more information,’ she added.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Nashua Police Department 603-594-3500.
This is a breaking news story.
