A tragic shooting occurred on Monday afternoon at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket during a youth ice hockey game. The 56-year-old perpetrator opened fire on members of his own family, killing two people and seriously injuring three others before taking his own life. The event, which was streamed live online, shocked the local community and caused panic among the families gathered in the stands and the players.

Attack at the ice rink

The perpetrator opened fire at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena during a Catholic schools match, killing two people and injuring three others.

Perpetrator's suicide

56-year-old Robert Dorgan (Roberta Esposito) took his own life immediately after shooting at members of his family.

Victims in critical condition

Three injured relatives of the perpetrator are in the hospital; doctors describe their condition as critical and life-threatening.

The bloody incident occurred around 2:30 PM local time in Pawtucket, near the state capital of Rhode Island, Providence. A hockey match between local Catholic school teams was taking place in the sports hall, watched by dozens of families with children. According to investigators, the attacker was Robert Dorgan, also known as Roberta Esposito. The 56-year-old stormed into the facility and fired at least a dozen gunshots, directly targeting his relatives. As a result of the attack, a young girl and another person from the perpetrator's circle died at the scene. Three additional victims, identified as relatives of the attacker, were transported to a local hospital in critical condition. After carrying out the massacre, the perpetrator committed suicide on the ice rink premises. The police, under the command of Chief Tina Goncalves, confirmed it was a targeted attack stemming from a deep family conflict. Some media reports suggest the motive may have been issues related to the perpetrator's gender identity, as he used a female surname. The dramatic moments were recorded by cameras broadcasting the competition; the footage shows hockey players fleeing to the locker rooms and spectators seeking shelter under the seats. The United States has been grappling with the problem of mass shootings in public places for years, leading to the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022—the most significant federal gun access law reform in decades. State Governor Dan McKee expressed deep condolences for the victims, emphasizing that all of Rhode Island stands united in pain with the residents of Pawtucket. FBI agents and local detectives worked at the scene to secure evidence and interview witnesses. The arena will remain closed until further notice during the ongoing investigation, which aims to clarify the precise circumstances of the perpetrator's weapon purchase and the sequence of events in the final minutes before the tragedy. „It appears this was a targeted event; everything indicates that the underlying cause was a family dispute.” — Tina Goncalves3 — people died at Dennis M. Lynch ArenaDeaths (including perpetrator): 3, Critically injured: 3Timeline of the tragic afternoon in Pawtucket: February 16, 14:30 — First shots; February 16, 14:45 — Emergency response; February 16, 16:00 — Press conference; February 17, 09:00 — Attacker identified

Mentioned People

  • Robert Dorgan — 56-year-old perpetrator of the shooting, also known as Roberta Esposito.
  • Tina Goncalves — Police chief in Pawtucket leading the investigation into the massacre.
  • Dan McKee — Governor of the state of Rhode Island, who offered condolences to the victims.