2 Killed, 3 Critcally Injured in R.I. Ice Rink Shooting During Hockey Game

An armed suspect accused of opening fire over a family dispute during a hockey game at a Pawtucket ice rink died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after a bystander intervened to try to subdue the shooter.

Feb. 17, 2026

3 min read

What to know

An armed suspect allegedly opened fire during a boys high school hockey game at a Pawtucket ice rink, killing two people and critically wounding three others before dying from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Chief Tina Goncalves said the shooting appears to have been targeted and possibly stemmed from a family dispute.
Multiple agencies responded to the shooting, and Goncalves thanked a bystander who she said stepped in during the incident and tried to subdue the suspect.

By Susannah Sudborough

Source masslive.com

The suspect in a deadly Monday afternoon shooting at a high school hockey game in Pawtucket was identified that night by Police Chief Tina Goncalves as Robert Dorgan, who she said went by the name Roberta Esposito.

Two people were killed by gunfire that broke out around 2:30 p.m. at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena, Goncalves said during a press conference. Three other victims who were shot during the incident were in critical condition at a hospital as of Monday night.

The suspect, who was born in 1969, is believed to have died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Goncalves said.

“It appears that this was a targeted event, that it may be a family dispute,” she said at a press conference earlier in the day.

The police chief declined to provide the identities of the victims or specify their relationships to the suspect Monday night. Pawtucket police had not interacted with the suspect prior to the shooting, she said.

During the Monday night press conference, Goncalves thanked a good Samaritan who she said stepped in during the incident and tried to subdue the suspect. She did not name the man, but said his actions are “probably what led to a swift end of this tragic event.”

Goncalves also confirmed that police recovered firearms from the scene, but would not say how many the suspect was carrying. After the shooting, investigators spoke to approximately 100 people at the Pawtucket Police Station to try to piece together what happened, the police chief said Monday night.

One of the victims died at the arena, while the other died later at a hospital, the police chief said. Goncalves confirmed that one of the victims who died was female, but would not specify the ages of the victims or say if any were student athletes.

The shooting happened during a boys hockey game between the Coventry/ Johnston school district and Blackstone Valley Co-op, which includes players from several Rhode Island schools, The Providence Journal reported. Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies swarmed the ice arena to respond to the incident Monday afternoon.

A burst of over a dozen gunshots can be heard on a video of the hockey game that was recorded by a sports live-streaming service, but the shooting occurs off-camera. Within seconds, screaming can be heard, players can be seen rushing off the ice and spectators can be seen dispersing.

Goncalves asked anyone with photos or videos of the incident to contact Pawtucket police at 401-727-9100, ext. 1711. She said more information about the shooting will be released as the investigation continues.

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