A night meant for high school hockey in Pawtucket ended in chaos when gunfire erupted inside a crowded ice arena, leaving multiple people dead and others wounded, authorities said.
According to Fox News, police said three people, including the suspected shooter, died following what they described as a domestic incident that unfolded during a game at the Dennis M Lynch Arena.
Three additional victims were injured.
Investigators believe the violence stemmed from a family dispute that escalated into a murder-suicide, according to a law enforcement source familiar with the case.
The source said the gunman killed his wife, shot two of his children, and then turned the weapon on himself. A third child was also shot and remains hospitalized.
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves identified the suspect by the birth name Robert Dorgan, noting the individual also went by Roberta and used the last name Esposito. She said the suspect was male and that at least one of the deceased victims was a woman. Another victim later died at a hospital.
Goncalves said the victims included “family members and a family friend” and described the incident as a “family dispute.”
A bystander attempted to intervene as the shooting unfolded. “We can also tell you that a good Samaritan stepped in and interjected in the scene, and that’s probably what led to a swift end of this tragic event earlier today,” the chief said.
Panic spread beyond the arena as people fled the scene. An employee at a nearby Walgreens told reporters that individuals rushed into the store, saying there was an active shooting.
School officials confirmed that all members of the Coventry boys hockey team who were present were accounted for and safe. Superintendent Don Cowart said district leaders immediately coordinated with arena staff and law enforcement, and an officer remained with the students.
“@FBIBoston is responding to the shooting this afternoon at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, RI – we will provide state and local law enforcement any and all resources necessary and keep the public updated as we are able. In the meantime please pray for the victims and their families,” FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X.
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee said his administration was monitoring the situation and offered condolences. “As Governor, a parent, and a former coach, my heart breaks for the victims, families, students, and everyone impacted by the devastating shooting at Lynch Arena in Pawtucket,” he said, thanking first responders and medical personnel.
The Providence Bruins also released a statement, saying, “Our thoughts are with all those affected by the tragic events at the High School Hockey game at Dennis M Lynch Arena in Pawtucket today. While we wait for more details, we share our support with the community and commend the first responders for all their efforts.”
