Three Dead In Rhode Island Ice Rink Shooting

Three people have died following a shooting at an ice skating arena in Rhode Island, authorities confirmed.

The incident occurred at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, near Providence, at approximately 2:30pm local time (7:30pm UK time) on Monday. A youth hockey game had been scheduled at the venue when the gunfire erupted.

According to officials, the suspect was among the three fatalities in what investigators described as a “targeted” attack linked to a family dispute. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said the suspect appears to have died from a “potentially self-inflicted gun[shot] wound”.

The two other victims who were killed are believed to be adults. One was pronounced dead at the arena, while the second later died at a nearby hospital.

In addition to the fatalities, three other individuals sustained gunshot wounds and remain in critical condition.

Chief Goncalves declined to release further information about those involved as authorities worked to notify relatives.

Several spectators were inside the arena at the time of the shooting, which was captured on a live stream of the hockey match. Emotional scenes unfolded outside the rink, where tearful families and high school players still wearing their uniforms embraced as police secured the area.

The teams playing at the time included a Coventry-Johnston cooperative squad and a St Raphael–Providence Country Day–North Providence–North Smithfield co-op team, according to local reports.

Coventry Public Schools Superintendent Don Cowart confirmed that all members of the Coventry hockey team are safe and accounted for. School officials from Johnston, North Smithfield, North Providence, Providence Country Day, and St Raphael Academy also issued statements assuring that their students were safe.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.