Police Credit A Good Samaritan For Ending A Deadly Shooting At A Rhode Island Ice Rink

A shooter unleashed a flurry of bullets during a Rhode Island younker lucky game, sidesplitting 2 group and injuring 3 others, successful an onslaught that was trim short erstwhile a spectator stepped successful to thief extremity nan tragedy, authorities said.

Investigators had spoken to astir 100 witnesses arsenic of Monday evening arsenic they effort to portion together what happened early Monday day wrong nan Dennis M. Lynch Arena successful Pawtucket, a fewer miles extracurricular Providence.

Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said Monday that nan shooter died from an evident self-inflicted weapon wound, though authorities are still investigating.

Goncalves credited an unnamed “good Samaritan” who intervened, bringing nan onslaught “to a swift end.” She did not supply details.

It is not wholly clear what precipitated nan shooting, who was targeted aliases why. Unverified video circulating connected societal media shows players connected nan crystal arsenic popping sounds are heard. Chaos quickly unfolds arsenic players connected benches dive for cover, those connected nan crystal frantically skate toward exits and fans fly their seats.

“It appears that this was a targeted event, that it whitethorn beryllium a family dispute,” she said. Authorities said some group who died were adults but person not released nan identities of nan victims.

Goncalves identified nan shooter arsenic Robert Dorgan, who she said besides went by nan sanction Roberta Esposito, who was calved successful 1969.

Monday’s shooting came astir 2 months aft Rhode Island was rocked by a shooting astatine Brown University that near 2 students dormant and wounded 9 others, arsenic good arsenic a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor. Authorities later recovered Claudio Neves Valente, 48, dormant from a self-inflicted gunshot coiled astatine a New Hampshire retention facility.

“Our authorities is grieving again,” Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee said successful a statement. “As governor, a parent, and a erstwhile coach, my bosom breaks for nan victims, families, students, and everyone impacted by nan devastating shooting astatine Lynch Arena successful Pawtucket.”

Kruesi writes for nan Associated Press.