A youth hockey game at Pawtucket’s Dennis M. Lynch Arena turned into a nightmare Monday afternoon when gunfire erupted in the stands, leaving two adults dead and three others critically wounded, according to police. Kids on the ice and parents in the bleachers bolted for the exits as spectators rushed toward the gunfire instead of away from it. At least one bystander helped take the shooter down, and the suspect was later found dead at the scene from an apparent self-inflicted wound. The game was being livestreamed, and video of the chaos raced around the internet, rattling the tight-knit local hockey community.
What police said
Investigators are calling the attack a “very targeted” family dispute. Authorities identified the shooter as 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, who also used the names Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgano, according to the Associated Press. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said officers have already spoken with nearly 100 witnesses as they work to map out the sequence of events and nail down a motive.
Victims identified
Officials later identified the two people killed as 52-year-old Rhonda Dorgan and her 23-year-old son, Aidan Dorgan. They had come to the rink to watch a younger family member play, The Boston Globe reported. According to the Globe, three others were also caught in the gunfire and hospitalized in critical condition: Rhonda’s parents, Linda and Gerald Dorgan, and family friend Thomas Geruso.
How the shooting ended
Pawtucket police credited at least one “good Samaritan” and several quick-thinking spectators who charged into the stands and helped pin the shooter, bringing the attack “to a swift end,” The Washington Post reported. Officials said that desperate struggle likely prevented more deaths. They added that the shooter appeared to reach for a second weapon before turning the gun on themself.
Video and livestreams
The game was being streamed by LiveBarn, and the circulating footage captures the burst of shots, an 11-second pause, then a final gunshot as people scramble out of the stands, WBUR reported. LiveBarn has warned viewers not to share the unauthorized clips, and police have urged anyone with their own recordings to hang on to them for investigators.
Aftermath and local response
Governor Dan McKee and Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien issued statements offering support to the families and saying state resources were being deployed, including counseling and hotline services, NBC Boston reported. The city opened a visitors center to provide in-person support, and officials are urging anyone shaken by the shooting to tap into available mental health care.
Investigation and firearms
Police recovered two pistols at the scene, a Glock 10mm and a SIG Sauer P226, and said both had been purchased legally. Authorities also noted that the shooter had a carry license in Florida, The Boston Globe reported. Federal agencies, including the FBI and ATF, are assisting local detectives as they pore over livestream footage and stack up witness interviews.
What officials are asking
Pawtucket police are asking anyone with photos or video from the rink to contact the department at (401) 727-9100, ext. 1711, the Warwick Post reported. Investigators say they are working with out-of-state agencies on search warrants and records requests, and city leaders are asking residents to give grieving families some space while authorities piece together exactly what happened in those terrifying moments at the arena.
