Tragedy Strikes Rhode Island Youth Hockey Game: Three Dead, Including Shooter, in Apparent Family Dispute
What was meant to be a spirited afternoon of high school hockey turned into a scene of heartbreak on Monday, as a shooting at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island left three people dead-including the alleged shooter-and three others critically injured.
The incident unfolded around 2:30 p.m. ET, during a game between the Coventry-Johnston co-op team and BVS, a team comprised of players from St.
Raphael Academy, North Providence, Providence Country Day, and the North Providence and North Smithfield public school districts. Families had gathered in the arena to cheer on their kids in what should have been a typical winter sports event.
Instead, the community is now reeling from a devastating act of violence.
What We Know So Far
According to Pawtucket police, the shooter is believed to have opened fire on five individuals before taking his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities confirmed that the shooting appeared to be targeted and potentially rooted in a family dispute. While the investigation is still ongoing, officials have indicated that this was not a random act.
Target 12 reported that the shooter was the father of a North Providence High School senior. The victims, reportedly members of the same family, were attending the game when the shooting occurred. Their names and ages have not yet been released as authorities continue to notify next of kin and gather more information.
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves addressed the media, stating that early indications point to a domestic conflict as the motive. Mayor Don Grebien echoed those sentiments, calling the incident "tragic" but emphasizing that it appears to have been isolated in nature.
Shockwaves Through the Hockey Community
The effects of the tragedy have rippled through the local hockey and school communities, who are grappling with grief and disbelief. Youth hockey, a cornerstone of many New England towns, is built on tight-knit relationships-between teammates, families, and schools. Monday’s events have left a deep scar on that fabric.
The Providence Bruins, the AHL affiliate of the Boston Bruins and a staple of Rhode Island’s hockey scene, expressed their condolences on social media, offering support to the victims' families and the broader community.
As the investigation continues and families begin the difficult process of healing, the focus now turns to supporting those impacted-on and off the ice. Monday’s tragedy is a sobering reminder that even in the most familiar and joyful places, real-life heartbreak can strike without warning.
For now, the Rhode Island hockey community mourns together, holding onto each other a little tighter.