Crime
Suspect Shot Wife and Three Children Before Taking His Own Life During Domestic Dispute at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket
PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Three people, including the suspected gunman, were killed and three others were injured during a shooting Monday afternoon at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena, according to Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves.
The gunfire erupted inside the arena while a high school boys’ hockey game was underway, sending players, students, and families scrambling for safety.
The rink, located on Andrew D. Ferland Way, was hosting a co-op matchup that had drawn numerous spectators at the time of the incident.
Chief Goncalves told reporters that the shooting appears to have stemmed from a “family dispute.”
Preliminary investigative findings indicate the suspect allegedly shot his wife and three of his children before turning the firearm on himself.
Authorities confirmed that three individuals, including the shooter, died as a result of the incident.
Three additional victims were transported to local hospitals for treatment. Their medical conditions have not yet been publicly disclosed.
Earlier in the day, the Pawtucket Mayor’s Office stated that a young girl was among those killed and confirmed that multiple individuals had been hospitalized.
Police have emphasized that the suspect is deceased and that there is no ongoing threat to the public. Investigators are not seeking any additional suspects.
The shooting occurred during a 2:00 p.m. game involving local co-op high school teams, drawing athletes, coaches, and family members to the facility.
Witness video captured chaotic scenes as individuals fled the rink following the sound of gunfire.
An employee at a nearby Walgreens on Andrew D. Ferland Way reported that several people ran into the store in a state of panic, stating that shots had been fired inside the arena.
Store management reportedly closed the pharmacy and evacuated staff while contacting 911. Some individuals sheltered inside the building until law enforcement secured the area.
Police responded rapidly and established control of the scene as part of a significant law enforcement presence.
Authorities have not yet released the names of the deceased or injured victims pending notification of next of kin.
The investigation remains active and ongoing as detectives work to determine the full sequence of events and confirm all circumstances surrounding the shooting.
State and local officials are expected to provide additional updates as more information becomes available.
A man has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman in the Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati, according to the Cincinnati Police Department.
Authorities identified the suspect as Jesse Wilson, 65, who has been charged with aggravated murder in the death of 36-year-old Jessica Hardy. Wilson was taken into custody and is currently being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center.
Police said officers were dispatched at approximately 6:35 a.m. on March 6 to the 700 block of Ridgeway Avenue after receiving reports of a shooting.
When officers arrived at the Avondale apartment building, they discovered Hardy suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency crews attempted lifesaving measures, but Hardy was pronounced dead at the scene, according to investigators.
The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office later confirmed her death and ruled the case an apparent homicide.
Detectives with the homicide unit launched an investigation shortly after the shooting, gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses as they worked to determine the circumstances leading up to the deadly incident.
Wilson was subsequently identified as a suspect and arrested.
Authorities have not yet released additional details about what may have led to the shooting.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police have asked anyone with information related to the case to contact the homicide unit.