Gunfire Erupts at Rhode Island Ice Rink, Three Dead

A tragic shooting on March 18, 2024, at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, during a youth hockey game, left three people dead, including the suspected shooter, and three others critically injured. The incident occurred during a senior day celebration, turning what was meant to be a festive occasion into a scene of chaos and fear.

Witnesses reported hearing what they initially thought were balloons popping but soon realized they were gunshots. “I thought it was balloons at first. It was like, bop bop, and I thought it was balloons but it just kept going and it was actually gunshots,” recalled Olin Lawrence, a player for Coventry. He described how he and his teammates quickly sought refuge in the locker room, pressing against the door to stay safe.

Another witness, Branden Mello, sports editor for the Woonsocket Call and Pawtucket Times, was present in the rink. “I just thought it was balloons popping… then someone in the scorers’ box said, ‘That’s gunfire, get down,’” he said. Mello observed that the shooter descended from the upper bleachers and began firing into the crowd, causing panic as spectators scrambled for safety.

In a display of courage, a man in the stands intervened during the shooting. “I talked to three or four sources… a North Smithfield father who doesn’t have a kid on the team… grabbed the gun,” Mello explained. This act of bravery likely prevented further casualties. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves commended the man’s efforts, stating that his intervention led to a “swift end to this tragic event.”

Authorities later identified the shooter as Robert Dorgan, also known as Roberta Esposito. Chief Goncalves indicated that the shooting appeared to stem from a family dispute, confirming that Dorgan was the father of a North Providence senior participating in the game. “It appears that this was a targeted event, that it may be a family dispute,” she noted.

The actual shooting lasted less than a minute, yet the emotional and psychological effects on those present will endure. Mello expressed concern for the young witnesses, stating, “Kids I talked to, their faces… I just feel horrible for them, like those kids’ childhoods were taken away from them by what happened today.”

The arena was filled with families and students from various cities, all impacted by this devastating incident. In the aftermath, flowers have been placed near the rink as a tribute to the victims and a reminder of the tragic events that unfolded.