A gunman fired multiple shots during a youth hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, killing two adults and injuring three others. A spectator intervened heroically, halting the attack swiftly, Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves confirmed.
Incident at Dennis M. Lynch Arena
The shooting occurred inside the Dennis M. Lynch Arena, just outside Providence. Investigators interviewed nearly 100 witnesses by Monday evening to reconstruct the events from earlier that day. Chief Goncalves reported that the shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, with the motive still under review.
Footage from the livestreamed game captures popping sounds amid the action on the ice. Players on the benches ducked for cover, those on the rink skated frantically toward exits, and spectators rushed from their seats in panic. The streaming service has issued warnings against unauthorized sharing of the videos on social media.
Targeted Attack Suspected
Chief Goncalves indicated the incident appears targeted, possibly stemming from a family dispute. Neither the victims’ identities nor the exact trigger have been disclosed yet.
Shooter Identified
Authorities named the shooter as Robert Dorgan, also known as Roberta Esposito, born in 1969. Dorgan was an active employee at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, a Maine shipyard contracting with the U.S. Navy. Shipyard spokesperson David Hench confirmed the employment but provided no further details on the role or tenure.
Official Reactions
This tragedy follows a shooting nearly two months ago at Brown University, where two students died and nine others, including a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor, were wounded. The suspect in that case, Claudio Neves Valente, 48, died from a self-inflicted wound in New Hampshire.
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee expressed profound grief in a statement: “Our state is grieving again. 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.”
