Woman Says Her Dad Opened Fire at Hockey Rink, Shooting 2 During High School Game – Details

The city of Pawtucket is reeling after a deadly shooting shattered what was meant to be a joyful gathering, with dozens of families, students, and supporters in attendance.

After a deadly shooting broke out in the stands during a Rhode Island high school hockey game, a woman said her father was responsible. The incident happened on Monday, February 16, and left three dead and three other people critically injured.

The shooting happened at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, an indoor skating facility, at about 2:30 p.m. Authorities said the violence was stopped when a bystander intervened, subdued the suspect, and helped bring the situation under control.

Footage from a livestream of the game captures the moment play on the ice was disrupted by rapid gunfire that appeared to come from the stands. At least 14 shots can be heard fired in quick succession, followed by one or two more shots about 10 seconds later.

Players and spectators were seen rushing off the ice and fleeing the stands to escape the gunfire. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said the suspect was among the three people who died. Three additional people were injured.

Goncalves said investigators believe the suspect's fatal gunshot wound was self-inflicted. Later, an unnamed woman leaving the Pawtucket Police Department with a man and a child said she knew who the suspect was.

"My father was the shooter," she declared, adding, "He shot my family, and he's dead now." The woman also said her father had mental health issues. She explained that he had struggled for a long time and was "very sick," though she did not share further details.

As she walked toward a pickup truck parked across from the police department, the woman said she did not know who had been killed and that she planned to go to the hospital next.

Online, many people reacted with disbelief at how the woman spoke publicly about the tragedy, with one person writing, "Rarely see an interview like that by a daughter😳." Another viewer focused on her courage, adding, "It is a really brave move by the daughter of the shooter to speak out."

The emotional toll of the moment also stood out to some, including one netizen who shared, "That poor woman who said it was her father. Such a shocking ordeal for all." One person spoke of the victims and the setting, "This is so upsetting. People are going to watch a game and they've been killed. 💔"

Authorities have since identified the Pawtucket shooting suspect as 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, who identified as transgender and also used the name Roberta. Dorgan, the parent of a North Providence High School senior, shot four relatives and a family friend during the hockey game.

As conversations shifted toward the suspect's transgender identity, one person pushed back against that focus, writing, "A horrific tragedy, but blaming identity distracts from the real issues. We should focus on mental health, warning signs, and prevention not scapegoating."

Sources familiar with the case said the three people who died include the student's mother, who was killed at the rink, the student's sibling, who later died at the hospital, and the suspect, who died by suicide. Goncalves said investigators believe the shooting may have been linked to a targeted family dispute.

Some reactions also echoed that view, with one person penning, "Tragic family dispute turned deadly heartbreaking for the victims. Mental health struggles were clearly a factor long before anything else. Sending condolences to the families affected."

Goncalves said the investigation is ongoing. By Monday night, officers had interviewed more than 100 people. Detectives are also reviewing video from the game. The police chief asked anyone with information or footage to contact Pawtucket police at 401-727-9100 ext. 1711.