A bloody shooting occurred on Monday afternoon at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena ice rink in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. During a high school hockey game, an armed man opened fire on members of his own family. The incident resulted in three fatalities, including the perpetrator and a young girl. Three other people are in critical condition in the hospital. Police suspect the motive for the crime was a domestic dispute.

Tragic victim count

As a result of the shooting, three people died, including the perpetrator and a young girl, and three others are in critical condition.

Domestic motive for the crime

Police in Pawtucket determined that the perpetrator targeted members of his own family, then committed suicide on the spot.

Panic during the match

The attack occurred during a school hockey game at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena, causing a mass evacuation of spectators.

On Monday afternoon, February 16, 2026, a peaceful ice hockey game in Pawtucket became the scene of a brutal crime. An armed perpetrator stormed into the Dennis M. Lynch Arena, where a local school team match was taking place. According to investigators, the assailant deliberately targeted his family members seated in the stands. The victim count is tragic: three deaths have been confirmed, including the perpetrator himself and a young girl. Another three people were transported to hospitals, where they are fighting for their lives in critical condition. The investigation led by police under the command of Tina Goncalves indicates the man took his own life immediately after shooting his relatives. Witnesses describe scenes of panic that erupted at the rink immediately after the first shots were heard. Dennis M. Lynch Arena filled with smoke and the screams of terrified spectators and players who sought shelter in locker rooms. State police units and FBI agents quickly arrived on the scene and secured the area. Governor Dan McKee expressed deep condolences to the community affected by this tragedy, emphasizing the need for psychological support for witnesses and victims' families. The United States has been grappling with the problem of mass shootings for years. Rhode Island statistically has a relatively low rate of gun-related crime, but incidents with a domestic background remain an unpredictable challenge for law enforcement.Preliminary findings suggest the attack was not random and did not constitute a terrorist threat. Officers are currently focused on reconstructing the events and determining how the perpetrator obtained a firearm. The tragic death of the young student has shaken local schools, which announced the cancellation of sports activities in the coming days. „It appears this was a targeted event; likely the result of a family dispute with tragic consequences.” — Tina Goncalves3 — fatalities in the ice rink shootingTimeline of events in Pawtucket: February 16, 15:30 — First shots; February 16, 16:00 — Emergency services intervention; February 16, 17:30 — Police press conference; February 17, 02:00 — Update on the injured

Mentioned People

  • Tina Goncalves — Police chief in Pawtucket, who informed the media about the details of the incident and the death of the perpetrator.
  • Dan McKee — Governor of the state of Rhode Island, who declared full support for the victims' families and the local community.