Suspect Named in Rhode Island Ice Rink Shooting That Killed Two, Injured Three
February 17, 2026
Police have named Robert Dorgan as the suspect in a shooting at a Rhode Island high school ice hockey game. The attack on Sunday at the Dennis M Lynch Arena in Pawtucket killed two people and injured three others. Police Chief Tina Goncalves said Dorgan, who also used the names Roberta and Esposito, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the arena. Goncalves said, "It appears that this was a targeted event, that it may be a family dispute." No details about the victims were released. Witness videos showed shots fired while players were on the ice, leading to panic as teams scrambled to escape. A bystander reportedly "stepped in and interjected" stopping the violence quickly, said Goncalves. Hockey players and parents shared their fear after the shooting. Melissa Dunn, whose son was playing, told reporters she saw paramedics doing CPR in the stands. "You don't know what's going on at first," she said. "You just hear the loud noises...and we're used to the kids banging on the board with their skates, so we thought it was that at first." She screamed for her son to duck and ran out with others. Player Olin Lawrence recalled hiding in a locker room. "It was very scary. We were very nervous. It was a lot of shots," he said. The arena is about five miles from Providence, Rhode Island’s capital. Governor Dan McKee said, "Our state is grieving again... my heart breaks for the victims, families and everyone impacted by the devastating shooting at Lynch Arena in Pawtucket."
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Tags:
Rhode Island
Ice Rink Shooting
Pawtucket
Robert Dorgan
Dennis M Lynch Arena
High School Hockey
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