PAWTUCKET: At least two people were killed and three others wounded in a shooting at an ice rink in the northeastern United States town of Pawtucket, authorities said on Monday.

Police Chief Tina Goncalves said there were three deaths in total, including the suspect, along with two victims. Three injured individuals were taken to hospital and remain in critical condition.

Initial investigations suggest the shooting was targeted and may have been linked to a family dispute, though officials have not yet released the identities of those involved.

The incident took place during a high school ice hockey game at Dennis M Lynch Arena, triggering panic among players, students and spectators.

Social media footage showed frightened teenagers fleeing for cover as gunshots rang out across the indoor rink. At least a dozen shots could be heard, with players abandoning the game and rushing toward exits while spectators ducked for safety.

An eyewitness told local media that players ran into the locker room and pressed against the door in an attempt to stay safe.

The shooting comes amid ongoing concerns over gun violence in the United States, where mass shootings remain frequent due to widespread access to firearms.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, more than 400 mass shootings were recorded in 2025, with overall gun violence claiming at least 14,703 lives last year, excluding suicides.

The Pawtucket incident occurred just two months after another mass shooting at Brown University, located a few miles away.