Police have identified the shooter in the Pawtucket ice rink shooting that left three dead. Officials said the suspect, Robert Dorgan, who also went by the name Roberta Esposito, reportedly died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
On Monday afternoon, February 16, 2026, around 2:30 p.m., a lone gunman opened fire on people at a local ice rink, the Dennis M. Lynch Arena, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, killing three people and leaving three others in critical condition.
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims. She said the shooting appears to be targeted, adding: “It may have been a family dispute.”
The unfortunate incident occurred during a high school hockey game between Coventry/Johnston and Blackstone Valley Co-op.
Witnesses described the horrific scenes and confusion following the tragic shooting as spectators and players ran for cover and fled towards the exit.
Melissa Dunn, mother of one of the players, said: “It was supposed to be a special day for the team and it’s really sad.”
Another Coventry High School goalie, Olin Lawrence, described the situation as complete chaos, saying, “We ran to the locker room and just tried to be safe. We pressed against the door and just tried to stay safe down there. It was very scary. We were very nervous. There were a lot of shots.”
