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The suspected shooter also died during the incident at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, police say
Rachel Dobkin in New York Tuesday 17 February 2026 00:45 GMT- Bookmark
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CloseVideo captures harrowing moment gunshots ring out at hockey game in Rhode Island
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A father is suspected of targeting his family in a mass shooting at an indoor ice rink in Rhode Island that has left at least two dead and multiple others injured, according to local reports.
Chaos erupted at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, near Providence, on Monday afternoon, as gunfire rang out during a high school hockey game.
Local outlet WPRI reported that the father of a North Providence High School senior shot five family members. A woman told WCVB-TV that the suspected shooter was her father, who “has mental health issues.”
A representative for the City of Providence told The Independent that he could not currently confirm reports that the suspected shooter was a father who targeted his family. The Independent has reached out to local authorities for comment.
open image in galleryA father is suspected of targeting his family in a mass shooting at an indoor ice rink in Rhode Island that has left at least two dead and multiple others injured, according to local reports (REUTERS)Aside from the victims who had died, three more were injured, police said. The suspected shooter has also died, according to authorities. It wasn’t immediately clear what led to the shooting or the condition of those injured.
The Pawtucket mayor’s office said a young girl was killed in the shooting, in a statement shared by local outlet WJAR. Local officials said authorities are not searching for any other suspects in the shooting.
“It seems that this is a targeted event and it may have been a family dispute,” Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves told reporters Monday.
The Providence Police Department announced on X that it was “monitoring the situation” and had officers at the rink “providing assistance.”
State police officers were seen outside the ice rink behind crime scene tape.
open image in galleryThe suspected shooter also died during the incident at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, police say (REUTERS)There were also FBI agents at the scene, according to the agency’s field office in Boston.
FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X that FBI Boston was responding to the shooting, adding, “We will provide state and local law enforcement any and all resources necessary and keep the public updated as we are able.
“In the meantime please pray for the victims and their families.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded to the shooting, according to its Boston Field Division.
The shooting happened during a hockey game between two local co-op teams: Coventry-Johnston and St. Raphael-Providence Country Day-North Providence-North Smithfield.
A Walgreens employee told WPRI that panicked patrons came into the nearby pharmacy saying there was a shooting. The police were called, according to the employee.
One hockey player from Coventry Public Schools told reporters that the shooting was “very scary.”
The student was on the ice when shots rang out. He then rushed into the locker room.
"We pressed against the door and just tried to stay safe down in there. It was very scary. We were very nervous," he said, per CBS Boston. "It was a lot of shots."
open image in galleryThe shooting happened during a hockey game between two local co-op teams Monday afternoon (AFP via Getty Images)WJAR shared a clip from a livestream that it says was taken during the hockey game at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena. In the video, gunshots were fired, prompting players to quickly skate off the ice to safety.
The Independent has reached out to authorities to verify the video.
Goncalves asked for the public’s help in the investigation by giving information to the Pawtucket Police Department.
“Any recordings that they may have, because obviously people were recording, their kids were on the ice...provide those to the police department,” the chief said.
Coventry and Johnston school districts said that all of their students are believed to be safe.
"We have been informed that students are secured in multiple locations. At this time, we are still working to confirm the status and location of all individuals,” Coventry's superintendent, Don Cowart, said in a message shared by WJAR.
open image in galleryPolice believe this was a targeted shooting, potentially relating to a family dispute (AFP via Getty Images)Johnston Public Schools said, per WJAR, “We have confirmed that our Johnston High School student-athlete who was participating in the game is safe. We are also aware of another Johnston student who was in attendance, and that student is safe as well.
“At this time, to the best of our knowledge, no Johnston High School students were harmed during this incident."
Providence Country Day School wrote on an Instagram story that it was “shocked and saddened” by the shooting, adding that all students, parents and staff who were at the game are safe.
Joseph Goho, the superintendent of North Providence Public Schools, said in a statement shared by NBC10 Boston, “All students involved in the game are safe.”
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to those involved in this tragic incident," Goho said.
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee wrote on X that he was “actively monitoring the shooting,” adding, “I am praying for Pawtucket and everyone involved.”
The Providence Bruins, the American Hockey League affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Boston Bruins, said their “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 shooting comes two months after a mass shooting at Brown University in Providence that left two students dead and nine others injured.