Police identify suspect in Rhode Island ice rink shooting
Police identify suspect in Rhode Island ice rink shooting
Authorities identified the gunman as Robert Dorgan (also Roberta Esposito), who died by suicide after a targeted shooting at a Pawtucket high school hockey game, leaving two dead and three injured.
A shooting at a high school hockey game in Pawtucket has left two people dead and three others injured, with investigators identifying the suspect as Robert Dorgan, who also used the name Roberta Esposito. Dorgan died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the Dennis M Lynch Arena, where the incident unfolded. Police described the attack as targeted and suggested it may have stemmed from a family dispute, though they did not release further details about the victims.
Witnesses recounted the moment the shots rang out as players were on the ice, triggering panic and a rush to exit the arena. By- standers and family members described scenes of fear, with one parent recalling CPR being performed in the stands as responders tried to save those hit by the gunfire. A student on the ice said he immediately ducked and then ran to safety inside the locker rooms.
The shooting occurred at the Dennis M Lynch Arena, located about five miles north of the state capital, Providence. Authorities said the identities of the deceased and injured would be released in due course, and they emphasized that the investigation continues as more details emerge. A bystander who intervened during the chaos is credited with contributing to a relatively swift end to the attack.
As the community processes the tragedy, families and teams affected by the incident are beginning to cope with the aftermath at a local level, while officials review safety procedures at venues hosting youth and high school sports.
