A quick-thinking bystander’s decision to confront a gunman during a high school hockey game in Rhode Island is being hailed as a lifesaving act. Michael Black was at the game in Pawtucket when the shooter, Robert Dorgan, began firing. Reflecting on that intense moment, Black recounted how he urged his wife to flee while he made the choice to stay.
Black shared on a morning news program, “I told my wife, ‘Run, run,’ and she was sitting next to me with some friends. She left, but I remained.” At that point, he believed the gunshots were just balloons popping until he saw a gun aimed at a nearby family.
He described how, spotting a clear line to the shooter, he jumped down and tackled Dorgan. “I jumped on him with my left hand,” Black recalled, attempting to intervene by putting his hand on the gun to prevent further firing. Other brave onlookers joined in, whom he dubbed “heroes,” but the shooter was able to grab a second weapon.
In a terrifying moment, Dorgan collapsed right in front of Black, who noted the gunman looked alarmed before reaching for another gun and then taking his own life. Tragically, Dorgan’s ex-wife and son lost their lives during the rampage, and at least three others sustained injuries.
Black mentioned that he injured his hand in the scramble, needing stitches, but he was grateful that his son was not there that day. Authorities quickly responded to the scene, and the Pawtucket Police Chief praised the “good Samaritans” who acted swiftly, stopping the shooting from escalating further. It was a frightening incident that left many shaken but also brought to light the courage of those who step up in dire situations.
