moment that would permanently alter people’s lives. Families had flocked to Pawtucket, Rhode Island’s Dennis M. Lynch Arena anticipating a typical afternoon of competition and applause. Instead, as gunfire erupted in the stands, uncertainty quickly turned to panic. One witness is now talking about the tight, split-second choices that were made, such as the time he hurried toward danger to try to stop the shooter before more people died.
On February 16, 2026, just before 3 p.m., Michael Black was sitting in the bleachers when he initially heard the popping noises. He initially thought they were balloons or a noise made in celebration of the home team’s goal. But when the noises persisted, he became aware that something was seriously amiss. He glanced up to see a gun aimed at a group of sitting people. After telling his wife to flee, he took what he calls an instinctual choice. Black stepped forward and grabbed for the gun, standing a few paces above the shooter. As the gun went off during the struggle, his hand became stuck close to the chamber, jamming it and stopping it from firing any further shots. To assist in bringing the shooter to the ground, several onlookers hurried in.
The immediate threat seemed, for a moment, to have been eliminated. But when the shooter pulled out a second gun from behind his jacket, things became heated once more. According to investigators, the man turned the firearm on himself before anyone could respond further. Emergency personnel and law enforcement swiftly responded and secured the area. Later, Black turned over the gun he had stolen from the suspect. He has rejected being called a hero, claiming that he moved instinctively to protect those around him despite suffering minor cheek burns and a hand injury during the incident.
Robert Dorgan, 56, who also went as Roberta Esposito, was later identified by police as the shooter. Authorities verified that the suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, three others were wounded, and two persons were shot and killed. Given that the victims were members of the shooter’s own family, officials characterized the incident as domestic in origin. Since then, advocacy organizations and community leaders have highlighted the widespread effects of family violence, particularly when it spreads into public areas. Witnesses say the events serve as a sobering reminder of how fast a routine day can turn deadly and how ordinary people can occasionally stand up in amazing ways during times of crisis, as investigators continue to evaluate the evidence.