On Monday, February 16, 2026, a shooting occurred at a crowded ice rink in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, during a youth hockey game. Three individuals, including the suspected shooter, were killed, and three others sustained critical injuries and were hospitalized. Local police chief Tina Goncalves stated that authorities are investigating the incident as a targeted act, potentially stemming from a family dispute. The shooting caused panic among attendees, with some seeking shelter and barricading themselves in locker rooms. This event underscores the ongoing issue of gun violence in the United States, where over 16,000 firearm deaths, excluding suicides, have been recorded in 2024.