A quiet community is grieving after a deadly shooting at an ice rink in Pawtucket. The suspect has been identified as 56-year-old Robert Dorgan. He was also known by the name Roberta Esposito.
Reportedly, a young girl was killed, and four other people were injured. The victims were rushed to nearby hospitals. Some suffered serious injuries. Others are still being treated and monitored.
NEW FOOTAGE: CCTV captures people fleeing the ice skating rink in Pawtucket, Rhode Island after a gunman opened fire inside, killing a young girl and injuring 4 others.
The shooter is dead. pic.twitter.com/Rb5Tbn4ka6
— Conflict Alarm (@ConflictAlarm) February 16, 2026
The suspect in the Pawtucket ice rink shooting has been identified as 56-year-old Robert Dorgan — who also went by the name Roberta Esposito — Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves announced during a press conference Monday night.
Authorities have not released the names of the victims, but stated that the shooting was “targeted” and seemed to stem from a family-related dispute.
Video has surfaced of the fatal shooting during a hockey game at an ice rink in Rhode Island on Monday, showing the crowd and players rushing for cover after a gunman opened fire, in a terrifying display of violence.
The tragedy occurred around 2 PM at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, RI — five miles northeast of Providence — when a man began shooting during the Coventry and Blackstone Valley Schools’ game.
According to Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves in a press conference;
“It appears this was a targeted event,” Chief Goncalves said, “that it may be a family dispute.”
For now, the focus remains on the victims. A young life has been lost, four others suffered injuries, families are mourning and a community is trying to heal.
BREAKING: The suspect in the Pawtucket ice rink shooting has been identified as 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, who also went by the name Roberta Esposito.pic.twitter.com/HNbtNfo99y
— Resist Times (@ResistWire) February 17, 2026
This tragedy serves as a painful reminder of how quickly violence can shatter everyday life. Residents are hoping for answers. Most of all, they are hoping for an end to gun violence.
