Terrifying Escape: High School Hockey Players Survive On-Ice Emergency

A disturbing video captures the terrifying moment when high school hockey players had to run for their lives as a gunman opened fire at a Rhode Island ice rink on Monday. The tragic incident resulted in two fatalities before the shooter turned the gun on himself.

Footage of the game, now viral on social media, shows players crouching along the sidelines as about half a dozen shots echo through the Dennis M Lynch Arena, located in Pawtucket, a short drive from Providence.

Players who were on the ice hurried to the sidelines in a desperate bid for safety.

After approximately a dozen shots were fired, some players leaped onto the ice, racing toward the back of the rink, while the chaos was punctuated by the screams and cries of onlookers.

Authorities have confirmed that the lives lost in this horrific event were due to a ‘family dispute,’ claiming two audience members.

Three others were also rushed to the hospital in critical condition. 

Hockey players on the ice were not harmed as the shooting occurred in the stands near spectators. 

Police said that the gunman died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities are not looking for any other suspects at this time. 

One hockey player described the chaos he felt when the gunman opened fire in the middle of the match in an interview with WJAR.

Hockey players were seen ducking down on the sidelines after an unidentified gunman opened fire at a high school game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island on Monday

After about a dozen shots were fired, the hockey players were seen racing to the back of the Dennis M Lynch Arena

Two people were killed in the tragedy, which authorities said stemmed from a ‘family dispute’ 

‘I was on the ice and I thought it was balloons at first – it was like “bop, bop,” and I thought it was balloons, but this kept going – and it was actually gunshots,’ Olin Lawrence recounted.

‘And after the gunshots, me and my teammates ran right to the locker room and we just bunkered up and we pressed against the door and we tried to stay safe down there.

‘But it was very scary, we were very nervous.’ 

The hockey game was between a co-op team made up of Coventry and Johnston kids, playing against another co-op team from St. Raphael, PCD, North Providence, and North Smithfield schools. The tournament started at 2pm. 

North Providence Public Schools Superintendent Joseph Goho has since assured the public that no student athletes were injured.

‘The North Providence High School co-op hockey team which also includes North Smithfield, St. Raphael Academy, and Providence Country Day School were playing in a hockey game when the shooting involving spectators occurred around the start the first period,’ he said in a statement. 

‘Fortunately, all students involved in the game are safe,’ he added.

‘At this point, all other information is preliminary and has not been confirmed officially, but it is important to inform everyone that our students, and the students from the other communities who participate on the co-op hockey team, are safe.’

One hockey player described how he and his teammates barricaded themselves in the locker room following the shooting

An unidentified woman was seen crying following the deadly shooting

A father is seen hugging his son outside of the Lynch Arena following the deadly shooting

Parents and teenagers were seen walking to an evacuation bus following the shooting

Still, Goho shared his sympathy for those affected by the shooting, saying: ‘Our thoughts and prayers go out to those involved in this tragic incident.’ 

Tragic photos of the scene showed parents holding on tightly to their children as they evacuated to the parking lot on Monday afternoon.

Footage also showed parents with their hands on their heads and children – some still wearing their hockey uniforms – crying.

A large yellow school bus was also seen parked outside the arena, along with multiple police officers who roped off the crime scene.

Multiple ambulances were also seen arriving then quickly fleeing to nearby hospitals and one victim was seen being taken out of the arena on a stretcher. 

After shots rang out at the indoor hockey rink, terrified children also ran into a nearby Walgreens pharmacy, screaming, an employee told WPRI.

Police and ATF agents are seen investigating the deadly shooting on Monday

FBI Boston said the agency is aware of the deadly shooting and have ‘responded to the scene.’ 

‘We stand ready to assist our partners at the Pawtucket Police Department and @RIStatePolice with any and all resources they need.

‘At this time, there is no imminent threat to public safety and there has been no request for FBI assistance. However, the public should continue to avoid the area,’ the FBI added.  

It was not a school day due to President’s Day, a federal holiday.