Citizens of Pawtucket have been left in shock after a man opened fire on his own family during a youth ice hockey match on Monday afternoon, February 16, killing two people and leaving three others in a critical condition. Police have identified the gunman as 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, who turned the weapon on himself after shooting his wife and children in front of hundreds of spectators.
The shooting occurred at approximately 2:30 pm at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena, where several local school teams were competing in a tournament.
The violence erupted during a scheduled match, with a digital livestream of the event capturing the sound of approximately 11 gunshots. The footage showed a scene of immediate panic as young players, some still in their skates, scrambled over the rink barriers to find cover. Spectators were seen diving to the floor or fleeing towards the locker rooms for safety in a video surfaced on social media sites.
Witnesses reported that a courageous bystander attempted to disarm the gunman during the assault. However, police sources indicate that Dorgan was carrying a second weapon, which he used before officers could intervene.
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves confirmed that of the two fatalities, one was a young girl. A police source told reporters that Dorgan targeted his wife and their three children. While the gunman and one child died at the scene, the three remaining family members were rushed to hospital, where they remain in a critical condition.
Investigators revealed that Dorgan also used the alias Roberta Esposito. He was the father of a student at North Providence High School, though it has not yet been confirmed if his child was competing in the specific match being played at the time of the shooting.
The Dennis M. Lynch Arena, which serves as the home ice for the Johnson & Wales Wildcats, was hosting multiple matches involving local schools when the incident occurred. The facility was immediately locked down as tactical teams cleared the building.
Authorities are currently looking into the motive behind the attack and the legal status of the firearms used. "This is a devastating day for our city and for the families involved," Chief Goncalves said during a brief press conference, adding that the investigation remains active.
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Local school districts have announced that counselling services will be made available to the students and families who witnessed the traumatic event. In a statement, North Providence High School expressed its "deepest sympathies" to those affected, noting the profound impact the tragedy has had on the tight-knit hockey community.
The arena is expected to remain closed for several days as forensic teams complete their work and the community begins to process the scale of the violence.