Shooting at Rhode Island Hockey Game Leaves Three Dead

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

Details of the Incident

Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves stated that an individual intervened in an attempt to subdue the shooter, who was present at the arena to watch a family member’s game. The shooter died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The police are investigating the incident as a potentially targeted event stemming from a family dispute. WBUR and AP News both reported on the event.

Suspect Identified

The shooter has been identified as Robert Dorgan, who also went by the name Roberta Esposito, and was born in 1969. WJAR reported that sources confirmed the suspect was the father of a North Providence senior player in the game.

Victims and Injuries

Police Chief Goncalves indicated that the two deceased victims were adults. Three individuals remain hospitalized in critical condition. The names of the victims were not immediately released pending notification of their families. WJAR reported that one of the deceased was the suspect’s son.

Investigation and Witness Accounts

Investigators have interviewed approximately 100 witnesses and are reviewing video footage from the hockey game to piece together the events. Unverified footage circulating on social media depicts players diving for cover and fans fleeing the arena after hearing popping sounds.

Recent Gun Violence in Rhode Island

This shooting occurred less than two months after a separate gun violence tragedy at Brown University, where two students were killed and nine others wounded. The Brown University shooter also fatally shot a professor at MIT before taking their own life. Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien noted the tragic coincidence, stating that the two incidents are not related, but both are deeply upsetting. WBUR

Community Response

Outside the arena, families and high school hockey players were seen embracing and leaving the area. Pawtucket is located just north of Providence and near the Massachusetts state border, with a population of approximately 80,000.