A Rhode Island shooting during a youth hockey game turned a family event into tragedy Monday night. Three people died, including the suspected gunman, and three others remain hospitalized in critical condition.
The shooting happened inside Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, just north of Providence. Families had gathered to watch a youth hockey game when gunfire broke out. Police responded within minutes.
Police Say Incident May Have Been Targeted
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves told reporters that the violence appears to have stemmed from a family dispute. She identified the shooter as Robert Dorgan, who also went by Roberta Esposito and was born in 1969.
Authorities said the suspect died from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators are reviewing surveillance video and interviewing witnesses to confirm the timeline of events.
Chief Goncalves said someone inside the arena attempted to intervene and help stop the shooter. Officials have not yet released the names of the victims.
Community In Shock
Outside the arena, families hugged and comforted one another. High school players, still wearing uniforms, boarded buses as police secured the area.
Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien called the event heartbreaking. “These are high school kids. They were playing with their families watching. A fun time turned into this,” he said.
Pawtucket is a city of nearly 80,000 residents and is located near the Massachusetts border. It has recently experienced another wave of violence in the region, including a deadly shooting at Brown University earlier this year, according to reporting by Reuters.
Investigation Ongoing
Police are working with state and federal partners as they continue to investigate. Officials have not announced a motive but confirmed the case appears isolated.
Gun violence remains a national issue. According to data compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, incidents involving firearms continue to impact communities across the country.
Authorities urged anyone with video footage or additional information to contact local law enforcement. The investigation remains active.
For now, a community that gathered for youth sports is left grieving and searching for answers.