Shooting at Rhode Island Hockey Rink Leaves Three Dead

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — A shooting at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, during a high school hockey game on Monday, February 16, 2026, resulted in three fatalities, including the shooter, and left three others hospitalized in critical condition, according to authorities .

Details of the Incident

Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves stated that the incident appears to be a targeted event stemming from a family dispute . The shooter, identified as Robert Dorgan, likewise known as Roberta Esposito, born in 1969, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound . Both victims who died, in addition to the shooter, were adults .

Investigation and Witness Accounts

Investigators are actively interviewing numerous witnesses who were present at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena during the shooting, reviewing video footage from the hockey game to reconstruct the timeline of events . Unverified footage circulating on social media depicts players diving for cover and fans evacuating their seats following the sound of gunshots.

According to Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed, a “fine Samaritan” attempted to confront the shooter and disarm them .

Community Impact and Response

The shooting occurred during a Senior Night game for the Blackstone Valley Schools co-operative boys hockey team, which includes athletes from St. Raphael Academy, Providence Country Day, and the public high schools of North Providence and North Smithfield . They were playing against a team from Coventry and Johnston. All students from Coventry are accounted for and safe .

Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien noted the tragedy, emphasizing that the event transformed a fun, family-oriented occasion into a scene of violence . The shooting occurred less than two months after a separate gun violence incident at Brown University, where two students were killed and nine others were injured .

Authorities have confirmed that the two incidents are unrelated .