Pawtucket Community Mourns After Arena Shooting During High School Hockey Match

 A devastating shooting occurred Monday afternoon at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena during a high school hockey game, leaving two people dead and three others critically injured, authorities confirmed. The suspected shooter, 56-year-old Robert K. Dorgan, also died at the scene from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The incident unfolded shortly before 2:30 p.m. local time during a boys’ high school hockey match between cooperative teams from Coventry/Johnston and Blackstone Valley Schools. Dozens of spectators, including family and friends, were present when gunfire erupted. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as players and fans scrambled for cover, some fleeing onto the ice or barricading themselves in locker rooms while others sought emergency exits.

Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves stated the shooting appears linked to a family dispute, though the investigation remains ongoing. Authorities recovered multiple firearms at the scene, and federal agencies, including the FBI and ATF, joined local law enforcement to assist with the investigation. Officers are reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses to reconstruct the events.

Two victims died—one at the scene and another at a hospital—while three others were critically injured and remain hospitalized. Officials have not released names pending family notifications. Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien described the community as being in mourning, emphasizing that there is no ongoing threat but urging residents to allow investigators to conduct their work.

All student athletes involved in the game were accounted for and unharmed, though the incident has left the broader community shaken. Support services are being mobilized to help families, players, and spectators cope with the emotional impact of the tragedy. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, which interrupted what should have been a day of sports and community celebration.