Two people were killed and three others were injured in a shooting at a high school ice hockey game in Pawtucket on Monday. The shooting suspect was also found dead.
This marks the second mass shooting in Rhode Island in the past two months, following the Dec. 13 shooting at Brown. The state had seen only four mass shootings since 2014, prior to Dec. 13, 2025.
In a video from the hockey game livestream, more than a dozen shots can be heard echoing in a crowded ice rink. Players on the ice at the Dennis M. Lynch arena — located about 5 miles from Brown’s campus — quickly skate toward the bleachers, while spectators duck and scatter off-screen.
In a press conference the evening of Feb. 16, Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said that the three injured victims are hospitalized in critical condition. She described the incident as a “family dispute,” with family members and “a family friend” involved. She added that the suspect appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and firearms were recovered at the rink.
“A good Samaritan did step in,” Goncalves added. “That’s probably what led to a swift end of this tragic event.”
In a statement posted on X Monday, the Boston Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation wrote that “there is no imminent threat to public safety.”
Goncalves identified a suspect by the birth name of Robert Dorgan, but noted that the individual also used the name Roberta Esposito.
According to the Boston Globe, a daughter of the suspect identified Rhonda Dorgan and Aidan Dorgan, the ex-wife and son of the suspect, as the two victims who were killed. The daughter named her mother's parents, Linda Dorgan and Jerry Dorgan, and a family friend as the injured victims.
North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi identified one of the victims killed in the shooting as the suspect’s son.
At the press conference, Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien stated that authorities are in the middle of an “active investigation” and have already interviewed over 100 witnesses.
“Providence Police provided mutual aid today and stayed on scene to offer any additional assistance needed,” Kristy dosReis, Providence’s chief public information officer for public safety, wrote in an email to The Herald.
According to WJAR, the two teams playing ice hockey during the time of the shooting were a Coventry-Johnston co-op and a St. Raphael-Providence Country Day-North Providence-North Smithfield co-op.
All North Providence students and hockey players are safe, North Providence Public Schools Superintendent Joseph Goho wrote in an email to The Herald.
According to WJAR, school officials from St. Raphael Academy, Coventry High School, Johnston Senior High School, North Smithfield High School and Providence Country Day School — all schools with students involved in the game — confirmed that their students were safe.
The shooting occurred at a high school hockey team’s Senior Night, U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo (D-R.I. 1) wrote in a press release sent to The Herald.
It is “unimaginable” to think that “Rhode Island community members are confronting what appears to be another tragic act of mass violence,” University Spokesperson Brian Clark wrote in an email to The Herald. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone impacted by the incident in Pawtucket as well as the dedicated first responders and emergency physicians.”
He added that “Brown continues to maintain an enhanced security presence across campus,” from College Hill to the Jewelry District.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Michelle Bi is a metro editor covering City Hall & Crime and State Politics & Justice. She is a sophomore from Oak Park, CA and studies English and IAPA. In her free time, you can find her playing guitar, the LA Times crossword or one of her 115 Spotify playlists.
