Rhode Island Hockey Game Shooting: 3 Dead, Multiple Injured

A somber scene unfolded at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island on February 16, 2026, as a shooting during a youth hockey game left three people dead, including the shooter, and three others critically injured. The incident, which occurred around 2:30 p.m., has shaken the local community and prompted an immediate investigation by Pawtucket Police.

According to Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves, the shooter has been identified as Robert Dorgan, also known as Roberta Esposito, born in 1969. The shooter died from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. Two adult victims also perished in the shooting, though authorities have not yet released their identities or ages. The three individuals injured are currently hospitalized in critical condition with gunshot wounds.

The shooting took place during a game between the Coventry–Johnston cooperative hockey team and the Blackstone Valley Schools co-op team, which was celebrating senior night. Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien described the event as a “targeted family dispute,” suggesting the violence was not random. Superintendent Don Cowart confirmed that all Coventry students present at the arena are safe and accounted for.

Eyewitness accounts paint a chaotic picture of the scene. Unverified footage circulating on social media reportedly shows players diving to the ice for cover and fans scrambling to safety after hearing gunshots. Branden Mello, a local sports editor who was at the arena, reported that the shots originated from behind the Blackstone Valley Schools bench. Mello also credited a North Smithfield father with bravely attempting to disarm the shooter, managing to grab one weapon before the individual produced a second.

“A North Smithfield father is one of the heroes of the afternoon,” Mello wrote on social media. “According to multiple people in the stands, he grabbed a gun out of the shooter’s hand, but the individual had a second weapon.”

The aftermath of the shooting saw tearful families and young hockey players, still in their uniforms, embracing each other outside the arena before being transported away by bus. A significant police presence remained at the scene, with roads closed and helicopters circling overhead. The arena itself became a focal point for investigators as they worked to piece together the events leading up to the tragedy.

Chief Goncalves stated that investigators are reviewing videos taken during the hockey game to gain a clearer understanding of the sequence of events. The police are also conducting interviews with witnesses to gather further information.

Mayor Grebien expressed the community’s grief, stating, “Pawtucket is a strong and resilient community, but tonight we are a city in mourning. We will stand together to support all those affected in the difficult days ahead, and we will keep the public updated as confirmed facts become available.”

This tragedy comes less than two months after another incident of gun violence in Rhode Island, at Brown University, where two students were killed and nine injured. That gunman, Claudio Neves Valente, 48, later died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in New Hampshire. Mayor Grebien acknowledged the proximity of these two events, stating, “Fortunately, the two incidents are not related, but This proves still tragic.”

Pawtucket, a city of nearly 80,000 located just north of Providence on the Massachusetts state line, was previously known as the headquarters of Hasbro. However, the city now finds itself grappling with the emotional fallout of this devastating shooting, a stark reminder of the pervasive issue of gun violence and its impact on communities across the nation.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not yet released further details regarding the motive or the relationship between the shooter and the victims. As the community mourns, the focus remains on supporting those affected and seeking answers in the wake of this senseless act of violence.