PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WJAR) — Three people, including the suspected shooter, were dead and three people were injured in a shooting Monday at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena ice rink in Pawtucket during a high school hockey game between two co-op teams.
The names and ages of the victims were not immediately available. The three people in the hospital were in critical condition.
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves identified the suspect as Robert Dorgan, who also goes by Roberta Esposito.
Sources confirmed to NBC 10 that the suspected shooter was a father of a North Providence senior that was playing in the game at the arena.
Police said they received a report of a shooting at the arena at around 2:30 p.m. Goncalves said they responded to the scene in less than two minutes.
Goncalves said the shooting appears a family dispute led to the violence.
She said police were still gathering information from witnesses, saying that they have interviewed around 100 witnesses as of Monday night.
“It appears that this was a targeted event, that it may be a family dispute,” Goncalves said. “We cannot release the names of the victims because obviously, we want to speak to the family, make sure the family is well aware of what happened before we release that information publicly.”
Three people are dead and three people are hurt after a shooting a high school hockey game in Pawtucket. Watch coverage from NBC 10 News at 6.
NBC 10’s Dan Jaehnig reported, citing a law enforcement source, that the suspect was a father, who may have been dressed in women’s clothing, and that he intentionally targeted family members who were at the hockey game.
Goncalves said police were not involved in the suspect’s death.
“It appears from a self-inflicted gun wound, but we are going to investigate that fully,” Goncalves said. “The police were not involved in that.”
She said firearms were retrieved from the scene.
Goncalves also highlighted a good Samaritan who interjected and attempted to subdue the suspect. She said the man’s actions led to a “swift end to this tragic event.”
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves gives a short statement at a news conference about a shooting at Dennis M. Lynch Arena.
Police said the game was being livestreamed so people could watch it from home.
Multiple WJAR viewers recorded and shared the video, which is now part of the police investigation.
Multiple gunshots are audible, and players are seen jumping out of the stands and skating across the ice to find safety. None of the players was hurt.
“I was on the ice, and I thought it was balloons at first,” said Olin Lawrence, of Coventry. “It was like, bop, bop. And I thought it was balloons, but it just kept going. And it was actually gunshots. And after the gunshots, me and my teammates ran right to the locker room, and we just bunkered up and we pressed against the door and just tried to stay safe down in there. But, no, it was very scary.”
Mayor Don Grebien said a 211 number has been set up for counseling and referral services, which will include trained professionals for physical and emotional needs.
The Rhode Island Interscholastic League said late Monday that all interscholastic games have been temporarily suspended.
The teams that were playing were Coventry-Johnston co-op and St. Raphael-Providence Country Day-North Providence-North Smithfield co-op. (If schools don’t have enough players for a team, they join with others to make a co-op team.)
St. Raphael Academy said “there was a horrific incident with an active shooter. We have been told none of our SRA family was injured.”
Coventry’s superintendent said all of the school district’s students were accounted for and safe.
“All students from the Coventry Boys Hockey team who were present at an incident at Lynch Arena in Pawtucket have been accounted for and are safe,” the statement said.
A person in a hockey jersey is shown with a group near the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, where one person was killed and four were injured in a shooting, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026.
Johnston Public Schools said, “We have confirmed that our Johnston High School student-athlete who was participating in the game is safe. We are also aware of another Johnston student who was in attendance, and that student is safe as well. At this time, to the best of our knowledge, no Johnston High School students were harmed during this incident.”
North Smithfield, North Providence and Providence Country Day officials also said that their students were safe.
NBC 10’s Nicole Moeder reports that a girl was killed in a shooting at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket.
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island called the shooting a “horrific tragedy” and that people should be safe at a youth sporting event. He also indicated someone tried to confront the shooter.
“We are grateful for the swift response of law enforcement and emergency responders who rushed to assist, as well as the good Samaritan who confronted and tried to disarm the shooter,” Reed said.
Gov. Dan McKee said he was praying for Pawtucket and everyone involved.
Gov. Dan McKee released a video statement about the shooting at Lynch Arena in Pawtucket.{ }
“Our state is grieving again,” the governor said in a statement. “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.”
The Providence Bruins released a statement about the shooting.
“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,” the team said.
The shooting happened about two months after a gunman opened fire in a building at Brown University in Providence, killing two people and injuring nine.