{"id":21555,"date":"2026-02-17T10:33:31","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T15:33:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/spectator-helps-stop-deadly-hockey-arena-shooting-in-rhode-island\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T10:33:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T15:33:31","slug":"spectator-helps-stop-deadly-hockey-arena-shooting-in-rhode-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/spectator-helps-stop-deadly-hockey-arena-shooting-in-rhode-island\/","title":{"rendered":"Spectator Helps Stop Deadly Hockey Arena Shooting in Rhode Island"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"934\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771342406232.jpg?resize=1000%2C934&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21554\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771342406232.jpg?w=1000&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771342406232.jpg?resize=300%2C280&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771342406232.jpg?resize=768%2C717&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>A gunman opened fire during a youth hockey game at a Rhode Island ice arena Monday afternoon, fatally shooting two adults and wounding three others before a spectator intervened to help stop the violence, according to police.<\/p><p>The deadly incident occurred at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, located just outside Providence. By Monday evening, investigators had interviewed nearly 100 witnesses as they work to understand what led to the shooting.<\/p><p>Police Chief Tina Goncalves announced Monday that the gunman died from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, though the investigation continues.<\/p><p>Goncalves praised an unidentified spectator who stepped in during the attack, saying the &#8220;good Samaritan&#8221; helped bring the violence &#8220;to a swift end.&#8221; The chief did not elaborate on how the individual intervened.<\/p><p>The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, as does whether specific individuals were targeted. Unconfirmed social media footage appears to show the moment gunshots rang out, with players scrambling for safety on the ice while spectators and those on team benches sought cover.<\/p><p>&#8220;It appears that this was a targeted event, that it may be a family dispute,&#8221; Goncalves stated. Officials confirmed both fatalities were adults but have not yet identified the victims.<\/p><p>The shooter was identified as Robert Dorgan, who also used the name Roberta Esposito and was born in 1969, according to Goncalves.<\/p><p>This tragedy follows another devastating shooting that shook Rhode Island nearly two months ago at Brown University, where two students were killed and nine others injured, along with a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor. In that case, authorities later discovered 48-year-old Claudio Neves Valente dead from a self-inflicted gunshot at a New Hampshire storage unit.<\/p><p>Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee expressed his grief in a public statement, saying &#8220;Our state is grieving again.&#8221; He added, &#8220;As governor, a parent, and a former coach, my heart breaks for the victims, families, students, and everyone impacted by the devastating shooting at Lynch Arena in Pawtucket.&#8221;<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A gunman opened fire during a youth hockey game at a Rhode Island ice rink Monday, killing two adults and wounding three others before dying from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot. Police say a spectator intervened to help bring the attack to a quick end.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":21554,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[831],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-us-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771342406232.jpg?fit=1000%2C934&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-5BF","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":29286,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/body-camera-footage-reveals-chaotic-scene-after-deadly-rhode-island-rink-attack\/","url_meta":{"origin":21555,"position":0},"title":"Body Camera Footage Reveals Chaotic Scene After Deadly Rhode Island Rink Attack","author":"Admin","date":"February 28, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Recently released police body camera footage shows the frantic moments following a fatal family shooting at a Rhode Island hockey rink. The 21-minute video captures officers and bystanders working together to aid victims after a gunman killed three family members and wounded two others during a youth hockey game.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;U.S. News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"U.S. News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/us-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772260269565.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772260269565.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772260269565.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772260269565.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23289,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/heroes-stop-rhode-island-ice-rink-shooter-who-killed-ex-wife-and-son\/","url_meta":{"origin":21555,"position":1},"title":"Heroes Stop Rhode Island Ice Rink Shooter Who Killed Ex-Wife and Son","author":"Admin","date":"February 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Three brave bystanders tackled a gunman at a Rhode Island hockey rink after he opened fire, killing his ex-wife and adult son. The quick actions of Michael Black and two others prevented more casualties before the shooter took his own life.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;U.S. News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"U.S. News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/us-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771522460690.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771522460690.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771522460690.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771522460690.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":39144,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/hockey-team-wins-championship-weeks-after-tragic-rink-shooting-claims-three-lives\/","url_meta":{"origin":21555,"position":2},"title":"Hockey Team Wins Championship Weeks After Tragic Rink Shooting Claims Three Lives","author":"Admin","date":"March 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A Rhode Island high school hockey team captured the state championship just weeks after a devastating shooting at their rink killed three family members of team captain Colin Dorgan. The Blackstone Valley Co-op team won 3-2 in quadruple overtime, with Dorgan helping lead the emotional victory after losing his mother,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773877083196.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773877083196.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773877083196.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773877083196.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27644,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/hockey-rink-shooting-claims-third-life-as-grandfather-succumbs-to-injuries\/","url_meta":{"origin":21555,"position":3},"title":"Hockey Rink Shooting Claims Third Life as Grandfather Succumbs to Injuries","author":"Admin","date":"February 26, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Gerald Dorgan has died from injuries sustained in a deadly family shooting at a Rhode Island youth hockey game. The attack, carried out by his former son-in-law, has now claimed three lives including Dorgan's daughter and grandson.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;U.S. News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"U.S. News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/us-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772087491798.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772087491798.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772087491798.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1772087491798.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20861,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/shooting-injures-multiple-people-at-youth-hockey-arena-in-rhode-island\/","url_meta":{"origin":21555,"position":4},"title":"Shooting Injures Multiple People at Youth Hockey Arena in Rhode Island","author":"Admin","date":"February 16, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Authorities in Pawtucket, Rhode Island are investigating a shooting incident that wounded several individuals at a local ice hockey facility Monday afternoon. The incident occurred at Dennis M. Lynch Arena during a scheduled youth hockey event, though specific details remain limited.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;U.S. News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"U.S. News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/us-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771277551463.jpg?fit=1000%2C811&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771277551463.jpg?fit=1000%2C811&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771277551463.jpg?fit=1000%2C811&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/news-1771277551463.jpg?fit=1000%2C811&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":35265,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/teen-hockey-player-scores-dramatic-ot-winner-after-family-tragedy\/","url_meta":{"origin":21555,"position":5},"title":"Teen Hockey Player Scores Dramatic OT Winner After Family Tragedy","author":"Admin","date":"March 12, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"High school senior Colin Dorgan netted the game-winning goal in double overtime to advance his team to the finals, just weeks after losing three family members in a deadly ice rink shooting in Rhode Island. The emotional victory came as Dorgan and his teammates honored the victims with memorial patches\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773330009464.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773330009464.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773330009464.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1773330009464.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21555"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21555\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21554"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}