Rhode Island Hockey Arena Shooting Leaves Three Dead
A shooting at a high school hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, left three people dead and three others injured Monday afternoon, with police saying the violence may have been a targeted incident tied to a family dispute.
The shooting occurred at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena during a game. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves identified the suspect as 56 year old Robert Dorgan and confirmed that he was among the three people who died. Goncalves said Dorgan likely died from a self inflicted gunshot wound.
“It appears that a lone individual, the suspect, entered the arena to watch the hockey game of a family member. And unfortunately, during that time, a shooting occurred,” Goncalves said during a news conference Monday night. “It appears that this was a targeted event, that it may be a family dispute.”
She added that “the police were not involved” in killing the suspect. Authorities have not released the names of the other victims. North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi told NBC 10 News that one of the victims was the suspect’s son.
Chaos During the Game
Video of the game was livestreamed online. NBC News verified footage in which “a series of roughly a dozen shots are heard.” The video has since been removed.
Olin Lawrence, a player on the ice at the time, described the moment the gunfire began.
“I was on the ice, and I thought it was balloons at first,” Lawrence told NBC. “It was like, bop, bop. And I thought it was balloons, but it just kept going.”
“Me and my teammates ran right to the locker room, and we just bunkered up and we pressed against the door and just tried to stay safe down in there. But, no, it was very scary,” he added.
Goncalves said a person at the arena attempted to subdue the suspect during the incident, crediting that effort with helping to end the violence more quickly.
The Rhode Island Interscholastic League announced that all games were suspended following the shooting.
Background of the Suspect
Additional reporting by the New York Post described Dorgan as having neo Nazi tattoos, including an “SS” symbol associated with the Schutzstaffel under Nazi Germany and a Totenkopf, or “death’s head” skull, imagery identified by the Anti Defamation League as a hate symbol used by neo Nazis and white supremacists.
The New York Post also reported that Dorgan had a history of posting antisemitic and racist rhetoric on social media, including references to “white power” and “white pride world wide.”
Law enforcement officials have not publicly commented on whether those elements are connected to the motive in the shooting.
Community Response
Governor Dan McKee said he was devastated by the shooting.
“As a 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,” McKee said. “I am praying for Rhode Island.”
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to determine the sequence of events and motive behind the deadly incident.
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