Pawtucket High School Hockey Game Shooting: Witness Steps In

A man who confronted a gunman during a mass shooting at a high school hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, shared that his first thought was for his wife to get away before he “went for the gun.” Michael Black, who was in the stands watching a friend’s son play, explained that at first, he thought the initial gunshots were just balloons popping. It hit him, rather shockingly, that those sounds were gunfire.

“I heard it pop again and realized it wasn’t a balloon,” he recounted. He quickly told his wife and a friend to flee the area, and then he leapt into action, tackling the shooter.

As the situation escalated, Black managed to grab the weapon, but noted that others joined in to help restrain the assailant. In the chaos, his left hand got caught in the gun’s chamber, which stopped it from firing again. “They’re trying to tackle him, and he falls straight at me,” he said.

During the struggle, a loaded magazine dropped from the suspect, and at one point, the assailant pulled out a second gun, pointing it at Black.

After the ordeal, Black handed one of the guns over to police officers who arrived on the scene. He expressed gratitude for the paramedics and hospital staff who treated his injuries, which included burns on his face caused by shell casings from the initial shots.

The alleged shooter has been identified as Robert Dorgan, 56, who reportedly shot and killed his ex-wife, Rhonda, and their adult son, Aidan, who later died in the hospital. Three other individuals, including Rhonda’s parents and a family friend, were reported to be in critical condition.

Pawtucket’s Police Chief Tina Gonsalves described Black as a “good Samaritan,” suggesting that his actions likely prevented the situation from worsening. “Good Samaritans stepped in and intervened at the scene, which likely led to a quick conclusion to this tragic event,” she said.

Despite the praise, Black declined to label himself a hero. “That’s not the right definition for me,” he remarked, asserting that he has heroes in his own life and doesn’t feel comfortable applying that term to himself.