Two individuals were killed and three others were injured in a shooting incident at an ice rink in Pawtucket, a town in the northeastern United States, as per authorities. Terrifying footage on social media captured teenagers fleeing in fear as gunshots rang out.
“We have three individuals deceased. The suspect, along with two victims, and three individuals are currently receiving treatment at the hospital,” stated Tina Goncalves, the police chief of the Rhode Island community.
Goncalves mentioned that preliminary findings indicate the shooting was likely a targeted attack and possibly linked to a family dispute.
Although the identities of the victims were not immediately disclosed, Goncalves noted that those injured were in critical condition.
Mass shootings are a frequent occurrence in the United States due to lenient gun control laws, making access to firearms relatively simple.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there were over 400 mass shootings in the United States in 2025, defined as incidents where four or more individuals are either shot or killed, excluding the perpetrator.
Gun-related violence resulted in a minimum of 14,703 deaths last year, not including suicides.
The shooting that took place during a high school ice hockey game on Monday happened just two months after a mass shooting at Brown University, located a mere 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) away.
Unverified footage circulated on social media depicted players, students, and spectators at Pawtucket’s Dennis M Lynch Arena scrambling for safety as gunshots echoed within the confines of the indoor ice rink.
An eyewitness who was on the ice during the shooting informed local news station WJAR, “After the gunshots, my teammates and I immediately sought refuge in the locker room. We huddled against the door, trying to stay safe.”
The social media video captured at least 12 gunshots, seemingly recorded from a live broadcast of the game. Initially, the teams carried on with the game, but as the gunfire intensified, players dispersed to the rink’s perimeters or hurried towards the exits, while spectators crouched down for protection.