A shooting at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, during a high school hockey game Monday left three people dead, including the suspect, and three others critically injured, according to Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves.
The shooting occurred just before 2:30 p.m. Local time during a game between the Blackstone Valley Schools cooperative hockey team and the Coventry-Johnston cooperative team, according to CBS News. Police have indicated the incident appears to have stemmed from a family dispute and was a targeted event, though the investigation remains in its early stages.
Rhode Island Hospital confirmed it is treating the three injured individuals, all of whom are in critical condition, NBC New York reported. The identity of the suspect has not been released.
“It seems like this was a targeted event and it may have been a family dispute, but we are still investigating and it is very early hours,” Chief Goncalves said, according to NBC New York.
Federal agents from the ATF and FBI responded to the scene to assist state and local law enforcement, CBS News reported. The arena is located approximately 45 miles south of Boston.
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee stated, “Our state is grieving again,” and encouraged anyone in require of support to call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, according to NBC New York.
Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien issued a statement calling the shooting “a terrible tragedy,” noting that the event took place during Senior Night for the Blackstone Valley Schools team. “Pawtucket is a strong and resilient community, but tonight we are a city in mourning,” Grebien said, according to CBS News. The city is working closely with law enforcement and the attorney general’s office in the ongoing investigation.
A mother of one of the hockey players described seeing first responders performing CPR in the stands, CBS News reported.
