Three people dead and others injured in shooting at US ice rink
The shooting happened at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, near Providence in Rhode Island, at around 2.30pm local time on Monday, where a youth hockey game was due to take place.
Tuesday 17 February 2026 14:17, UK
Three people have died in a shooting at an ice rink in the US, authorities said.
The shooting happened at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, near Providence in Rhode Island, at around 2.30pm local time on Monday, where a youth hockey game was due to take place.
The suspect, named by police as Robert Dorgan, is among the three people who died in what authorities said they believe was a "targeted" attack stemming from a family dispute.
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Dorgan, who was also known as Roberta Esposito, died from a "potentially self-inflicted gun[shot] wound", Pawtucket Police chief Tina Goncalves said.
Ms Goncalves said Dorgan was born in 1969, but gave no other details.
The two victims who were shot dead appear to have been adults, she added. One of them was found inside the arena, while the other died at a hospital.
Three other people suffered gunshot injuries and are in critical condition in hospital.
Players and fans raced for cover after popping sounds were heard at the venue, according to unverified footage published on social media.
Tearful families and high school hockey players still in uniform could be seen hugging outside the arena after the shooting, while police cordoned off the ice rink.
Ms Goncalves confirmed that several people were inside the arena at the time of the shooting, which was caught on a live stream of the hockey game.
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The teams on the ice were from Coventry-Johnston co-op - a cooperative team with members of more than one school - and St Raphael-Providence Country Day-North Providence-North Smithfield co-op, according to WJAR, an affiliate of Paste BN' US partner network NBC.
All members of the Coventry hockey team were safe and accounted for, according to Coventry Public Schools of Rhode Island superintendent Don Cowart.
Officials for Johnston Public Schools, North Smithfield, North Providence, Providence Day and St Raphael Academy also said in statements that their students were safe.
It comes almost two months after a gunman killed three people after opening fire at Brown University in nearby Providence before turning his weapon on himself.