Tragedy on the Ice: The Pawtucket Rink Shooting

A Community in Mourning: The Tragic Shooting at Dennis M. Lynch Arena

Cj Gunther/Reuters

What was supposed to be a celebratory "Senior Night" for high school athletes turned into a scene of absolute terror on Monday afternoon. At the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the rhythmic sound of skates hitting the ice was suddenly replaced by the sharp, unmistakable crack of gunfire. By the time the echoes faded, a family was shattered, and a community was left searching for answers.

Chaos During the Game

The shooting broke out around 2:30 p.m. during a boys’ hockey game between the Coventry/Johnston co-op and the Blackstone Valley Co-op. Spectators initially mistook the noise for players banging their sticks against the boards—a common sound in any rink. However, the reality became clear as players began diving for cover and families scrambled toward the exits in a desperate bid for safety.

“It was pure pandemonium,” one witness recalled. “People were running out of the building with only one skate on, just trying to get their children away from the noise.”

A Targeted Family Dispute

Authorities have identified the shooter as Robert K. Dorgan, 56, a parent of one of the players on the ice. According to Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves, the incident was not a random act of violence but a targeted domestic attack stemming from a deep-seated family dispute.

The tragedy claimed the lives of three people, including Dorgan, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Among the deceased were members of Dorgan's own family. Three others remain in critical condition at local hospitals, fighting for their lives after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.

A Moment of Bravery

In the midst of the horror, a glimmer of heroism emerged. Reports indicate that a bystander—another father in the stands—attempted to intervene and subdue the gunman. While the intervention did not prevent the initial loss of life, officials believe his quick thinking may have prevented further casualties by distracting the shooter during the chaotic sequence.

Rhode Island in Reflection

The aftermath has left the state of Rhode Island reeling. Governor Dan McKee and Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien have both issued statements expressing their heartbreak, calling it a "senseless act of violence" that has robbed young athletes of their sense of security.

In a show of respect for the victims and their families, the Rhode Island Interscholastic League has temporarily suspended all scheduled games. For now, the focus remains on support and healing as the Pawtucket community begins the long process of recovering from a day that changed the local sports landscape forever.