Police identify suspect in deadly shooting at ice rink in Pawtucket

Three people were killed and three others were critically injured Monday after gunfire erupted during a high school hockey game at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, police said. Authorities have identified the suspected shooter and say the attack appears to have stemmed from a family dispute.

Shooting, casualties and suspect identity

Pawtucket police received a report of an active shooter at the arena at around 2: 30 p. m. ET and officers were on scene in less than two minutes. The game, a holiday weekend contest that brought together co-op teams, had been scheduled to begin at 2: 00 p. m. ET and was being livestreamed for fans who could not attend.

Chief Tina Goncalves identified the suspected shooter as Robert Dorgan, who also used the name Roberta Esposito. Investigators said the suspect was the father of a senior from North Providence who was playing in the game. Names and ages of the victims have not been released so families could be notified.

Authorities said three people were found dead at the scene, including the suspected shooter, and three others were taken to hospitals in critical condition. Investigators indicated one of the deceased was the suspect's son. Police said the shooter’s death appears to be self-inflicted and that officers were not involved in that fatality. Multiple firearms were recovered from the arena.

Chief Goncalves described the incident as appearing to be a targeted event that may have grown out of a family dispute. Investigators have been conducting interviews and gathering recordings from the livestream and bystanders; roughly 100 witnesses had been interviewed by Monday night as detectives worked to reconstruct the sequence of events.

Response, investigation and community impact

Officials praised a bystander who intervened and attempted to subdue the shooter, calling the action instrumental in ending the attack quickly. Local law enforcement requested assistance from federal agents, and additional officers from neighboring jurisdictions were sent to the scene to support the investigation and to help the community cope with the trauma.

The game involved combined teams from several area schools and had coincided with a senior recognition night, amplifying the emotional toll on players, families and spectators. Local leaders described the episode as heartbreaking and traumatic for a community that came to the rink for a family-friendly event.

Investigators are cataloging video evidence from the arena’s livestream and from spectators who recorded what happened. Forensics teams will process the scene and examine the recovered firearms while detectives continue to interview witnesses and piece together motive and chronology. Officials emphasized that investigative work is ongoing and pledged a full inquiry into both the shooting and the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death.

What’s next

Authorities said they will not release victim identities until families have been notified and urged anyone with footage or tips to share them with investigators. The community is expected to receive support services in the coming days, including counseling for students and families affected by the shooting.

As the inquiry proceeds, investigators will focus on motive, how the suspect accessed the arena, and whether any warning signs were missed. Police reiterated that they are treating the event as a targeted act tied to a family dispute and asked for patience as they work through hundreds of leads and witness statements.