A high school ice hockey match in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, was shattered by a mass shooting on Monday afternoon, leaving a young girl dead, four people injured, and the suspected gunman killed at the scene.
The violence erupted shortly before 2:30 p.m. on February 16, 2026, at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena on 25 Andrew D. Ferland Way, during a game between rival teams Coventry and Blackstone Valley Schools. Shots were fired from the stands behind the Blackstone Valley bench, according to local sports editor Branden Mello.
Panicked families fled the arena, with some rushing into a nearby Walgreens in the shopping district. An employee there told Target 12 that fans charged into the pharmacy in a panic, leading to a 911 call and the sheltering of terrified families inside the store.
The Pawtucket mayor’s office confirmed that a young girl was killed in the shooting. One victim was declared dead at the scene, while four others were transported to hospital with injuries.
A witness described a father attempting to wrestle the gun away from the shooter, but the gunman had a second weapon; this individual has been hailed as a hero. Initial reports suggest the suspected gunman was killed in the stands.
The superintendent of Coventry Public Schools confirmed a “serious reported incident” at Lynch Arena where their boys’ hockey team was playing, stating that students were secured in multiple locations, in a statement reported by WJAR.
Governor Dan McKee posted on X that he was actively monitoring the shooting, had spoken with the mayor and Rhode Island State Police, and was praying for Pawtucket and everyone involved.
Investigation and Context
Law enforcement, including the Rhode Island State Police and local authorities, are investigating the shooting. The ATF has stated it will assist police, and no other suspects are being sought at this time.
An unconfirmed report suggests the shooting may have been a domestic violence incident, with the gunman allegedly killing his wife and shooting his children before turning the gun on himself.
This tragedy adds to broader concerns about gun violence in Rhode Island, following other recent incidents including a shooting at Brown University in December 2025 and a fatal shooting in Pawtucket in October 2020. In February 2022, a DUI crash killed a high school hockey player in the state.
