By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing:
• Shooter opened fire during a high school hockey game at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on Monday afternoon.
• A bystander, identified as Michael Black, jammed the gun’s chamber with his hand and, with others, helped restrain the shooter.
• The shooter died by a self-inflicted gunshot, and at least five people were wounded, including two fatally.
• Police and emergency responders intervened on scene and transported injured victims to local hospitals.
PAWTUCKET, R.I. — A sudden shooting at a high school hockey game Monday at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket prompted bystanders to intervene and law enforcement to respond, officials said.
Caleb Jones via Zoom/AP
According to authorities, the incident began in the stands during the game when a spectator opened fire, killing two adults and wounding three others before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot.
Witnesses and officials identified a bystander, Michael Black, who confronted the shooter by placing his hand into the firearm’s chamber, temporarily disabling it. Other spectators assisted in subduing the individual until police arrived.
Emergency medical personnel and retired first responders on site provided first aid to victims, and injured individuals were transported to nearby hospitals, where they remained in critical condition.
Pawtucket Police continue to investigate the motive and circumstances surrounding the shooting. Evidence collected from the shooter’s storage locker, including firearms and ammunition, is being processed by state and federal partners.
The department urged anyone with additional information related to the case to contact investigators as they work to complete their review of the events.