Kevin Rourke, Nashua Police Chief

Last night’s mass shooting at Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua is garnering national attention, thanks to eyewitness accounts indicating alleged shooter Hunter Nadeau yelled “free Palestine” before opening fire on the unsuspecting crowd. But of more local interest, astute observers also note a pair of angles tying Lowell to last night’s tragic events.

Nashua Police Chief Kevin Rourke was born and raised in the Mill City. The Centralville kid was a four year varsity baseball player at Lowell High, captaining the Red Raiders 1995 squad. The cousin of Lowell Mayor Danny Rourke was named Chief on March 1, 2022.

Chief Rourke has been a visible presence at the press conferences held to update the public on the shooting, along with the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, which is assisting Nashua PD with the investigation.

The other angle involves the location of last night’s shooting, Sky Meadow CC, which is owned by UMass Lowell graduate Rob Parsons.

Parsons graduated UML in 1995 with a degree in finance and heads Parson Ventures. He’s served as Director of Development at both Denny’s and Popeyes Chicken. At one time, he owned seven Popeyes franchises in the Boston area, which he eventually sold to focus on Primrose Schools, a national preschool chain.

Parsons purchased Sky Meadow in 2021 and has invested extensively in the 18-hole championship course and country club facilities, which include a restaurant, bar, banquet space, swimming pool and pickleball courts.

Earlier today, New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte released a statement on the incident, writing “Joe (Ayotte’s husband) and I are praying for the victims and their families of the tragic shooting last night at Sky Meadow Country Club. I want to thank Chief Rourke, the Nashua Police Department, and all of the first responders who reacted quickly to secure the scene and detain the suspect. The Attorney General’s office will continue to assist the Nashua Police Department with this ongoing investigation.”