Executive Summary
- Three people, including the suspected gunman, died in a shooting at a Pawtucket, R.I. hockey rink.
- Three surviving victims were hospitalized in critical condition following the incident.
- Police investigations indicate the shooting was a targeted event stemming from a domestic dispute.
PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Three individuals, including a suspected gunman, were pronounced dead Monday following a shooting incident during a youth hockey game at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena, according to local law enforcement officials.
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves confirmed to reporters that three additional victims sustained gunshot wounds and were transported to area hospitals in critical condition. While the specific identities of those involved have not been released, Chief Goncalves indicated that the two deceased victims appeared to be adults.
Preliminary reports from the Pawtucket Police Department suggest the violence was isolated rather than random. “It appears that this was a targeted event, that it may be a family dispute,” Chief Goncalves stated during a media briefing. Investigators are currently working to determine the precise motive and the relationship between the suspect and the victims.
The shooting prompted a massive emergency response in Pawtucket, a city located north of Providence near the Massachusetts border. Law enforcement officers secured a perimeter around the facility, closing adjacent roads while helicopters surveyed the area. Witnesses outside the arena described scenes of high school hockey players, still in uniform, evacuating the building and reuniting with family members.
Investigative Outlook
As the Pawtucket Police Department continues to interview witnesses and process the crime scene, the investigation will likely focus on tracing the firearm used and corroborating the timeline of the domestic dispute. Authorities have emphasized that while the suspected shooter is deceased, forensic analysis is required to formally close the case and ensure no other individuals were involved in the planning or execution of the attack.
