Assistant Principal From Shea High Among Victims in Pawtucket Ice Rink Shooting

by EnteringPawtucket.com

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — An assistant principal at Charles E. Shea High School was critically injured in a shooting Monday at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket that left multiple people dead and others hospitalized, authorities said.

Police said the incident unfolded during a high school hockey game around 2:30 p.m. when a 56-year-old gunman opened fire inside the crowded rink. Two people were killed and at least three others were taken to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence in critical condition, including the Shea High School administrator.

The suspect, identified by officials as Robert Dorgan, who also went by the name Roberta Esposito, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene, police said.

Authorities described the shooting as a targeted act and said it appeared to stem from a family dispute. Two of the victims who died were identified as the gunman’s ex-wife and their adult son.

Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said officers and emergency personnel arrived within minutes of the first shots, securing the area and aiding those wounded. The names of the critically injured were not immediately released.

Officials temporarily suspended all Rhode Island Interscholastic League games in the aftermath of the shooting. Mayor Donald Grebien and other local leaders offered condolences to the victims’ families and pledged support for the community as it grapples with the tragedy.

School officials from Shea High expressed deep concern for the injured assistant principal and said counseling and mental health resources would be made available for students and staff.

The investigation remains active, and police have not released a motive beyond noting the domestic nature of the attack.