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A distraught dad is accused of shooting five people at a Rhode Island ice rink Monday afternoon, as a “family dispute” turned deadly during a high school hockey game where a hero bystander likely saved more lives.
Two victims were killed and the suspect took his own life with “a self-inflicted wound” following the apparent targeted family shooting at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, according to police.
Three other people were shot and were hospitalized in critical condition, Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said during a press conference. She added later that the suspected shooter has been identified as 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, who also went by “Roberta.”
The chief gave that answer after being asked if the gunman was “transgender.” She did not elaborate, saying she will have more to report on Tuesday.
The chief also confirmed a hero “Good Samaritan interjected,” likely helping to end the hockey rink carnage when he “attempted to subdue” the shooter. She also confirmed that the shooting stemmed from a “family dispute.”
Dorgan — a father of a high schooler — reportedly shot five members of his child’s family, according to reports. The student’s mother and a sibling were killed, according to WPRI Providence. Both victims who died appear to be adults, the police chief added, but she declined to identify the victims.
A high school “senior night” hockey game was taking place at the rink Monday afternoon. Shaken players and parents were seen outside the arena after the shooting.
Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien called the incident “traumatic.”
“It is very tragic,” he said at the press conference. “You think about it: These are high school kids. They were doing an event. They were playing, you know, with their families watching a fun time, and it turned into this, so it’s got to be traumatic.”
On a livestream video of the hockey game, viewers can hear many loud bangs as players duck for cover. Then the players are seen quickly getting off the ice and benches, and heading out amid the shooting chaos.
Video from Lynch Arena in Pawtucket when the shooting occurred. You cannot see anything – the noise is unmistakeable – but the reaction and chaos that follows the follows tells the story. pic.twitter.com/AYAdA2jEDE
— Eric Rueb (@EricRueb) February 16, 2026
The Coventry School District confirmed that all students from the boys hockey team who were at the arena had been accounted for and were safe.
“All Coventry students have been safely reunited with their loved ones,” Superintendent Don Cowart wrote. “Mental health resources will be made available to the Hockey students and families. We encourage anyone who may need support to access these services. Thank you for your cooperation and patience today.”
It was senior night for the Blackstone Valley Schools cooperative hockey team during a matchup against the Coventry-Johnston cooperative team.
FBI Boston agents responded to the scene.
“We stand ready to assist our partners at the Pawtucket Police Department and @RIStatePolice with any and all resources they need,” FBI Boston posted. “At this time, there is no imminent threat to public safety and there has been no request for FBI assistance. However, the public should continue to avoid the area. Our prayers are with everyone impacted by this incident.”
ATF Boston agents also responded to the scene to help state and local authorities.
Providence Police said they were “monitoring the situation in Pawtucket. We currently have officers on scene providing assistance.”
R.I. Gov. Dan McKee said he’s “praying for Pawtucket and everyone involved.”
“We are actively monitoring the shooting at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket,” he posted. “I just spoke with Mayor Grebien as well as @RIStatePolice who are working with local law enforcement.”
R.I. Congressman Gabe Amo said his “thoughts are with the victims of the shooting in Pawtucket at Lynch Arena. I also send comfort to all of the families and spectators who witnessed this horror.”
“I’m saddened that gun violence has impacted another community — an ice arena should be a safe place for kids and families to come together,” Amo added. “It’s horrible that the memory of these teams’ high school hockey Senior Night, with families from across Rhode Island, will be a tragedy.
“I have been in touch with Mayor Grebien and am grateful to bystanders, law enforcement, and first responders who rushed to neutralize this threat,” he wrote. “This appears to be a targeted incident and there is no ongoing danger to the public. I stand ready to help secure any requested federal assistance.”
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said her “heart is with Pawtucket and the children and families impacted by today’s tragic shooting in Rhode Island. Grateful for the quick action of first responders, and keeping the victims and their loved ones in my prayers.”
Massachusetts Congresswoman Katherine Clark said she was “devastated to learn of the shooting in Pawtucket.”
“What should have been a unifying community event has now become another senseless tragedy,” Clark posted. “Congress needs to pass commonsense legislation to end this cycle of gun violence once and for all.”
Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton wrote, “Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and the entire Pawtucket community following today’s tragic shooting. We must stand together, support those impacted, and keep working toward safer communities for everyone.”
The Providence Bruins said the team’s “thoughts are with all those affected by the tragic events at the High School Hockey game… We share our support with the community, and commend the first responders for all their efforts.”
This mass shooting comes a couple of months after the deadly mass shooting at Brown University in nearby Providence.
In mid-December, Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente shot and killed students at Brown University before gunning down an MIT professor in Brookline.
Neves-Valente shot and killed students Ella Cook and MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, along with injuring several other students. Two days later, he gunned down MIT professor Nuno Loureiro at his Brookline home. They were reportedly classmates decades ago in Portugal.
After the killing spree, Neves-Valente went to a New Hampshire storage facility, where he took his own life.
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