Three dead, including suspect, in shooting at Rhode Island hockey rink

Local authorities in Pawtucket, Rhode Island said Monday that three people, including a suspect, were killed in a shooting during a high school hockey game.

Three others were injured in the shooting, which occurred at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena on Monday afternoon. According to Pawtucket police chief Tina Goncalves, the shooter apparently died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound minutes after opening fire at the rink.

Goncalves said that the shooting appears to be a “targeted” attack that may have stemmed from a family dispute. One victim died at the scene while the other succumbed to their injuries after being taken to a local hospital, she added.

The three injured victims were hospitalized and are in critical condition, Goncalves said. She did not disclose the identities of the shooter or any of the victims.

The shooting took place during a game between Coventry/Johnston and Blackstone Valley co-op teams. The game was broadcast on a service that streams youth sporting events; footage from the shooting, which occurred during live gameplay and caused both teams to flee the benches and the ice surface, spread across social media on Monday.

Pawtucket is a city in Providence County in northeastern Rhode Island, located just south and east of the Massachusetts state line. The 2020 United States Census listed Pawtucket as having a population of 75,604.

The AHL’s Providence Bruins, who play their home games five miles away at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, released a statement in the aftermath of the shooting on Monday.

“Our thoughts are with all those affected by the tragic events at the High School Hockey game at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket today,” the online statement read. “While we wait for more details, we share our support with the community, and commend the first responders for all their efforts.”