Harrowing moment high school hockey players flee for their lives as dad shoots wife and three kids: ‘He shot my family’

Shocking video shows the moment high school hockey players had to run for their lives after a father opened fire on his family at a Rhode Island ice rink and then took his own life on Monday.

Livestream footage of the game circulating on social media showed players starting to step aside after about six gunshots rang out at Dennis M Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, about 10 minutes outside of Providence.

Other players on the ice struggled to reach the sideline and get to safety.

After a total of about a dozen shots were fired, some hockey players were seen jumping on the ice and running towards the back of the field, while the screams and cries of the audience were heard.

Two spectators died in the tragedy, which authorities now say was caused by a “family dispute.”

A source with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told Fox News the gunman shot and killed his wife and opened fire on his children before turning the gun on himself.

One of the children was later pronounced dead at a local hospital, while the second child remained in the hospital with two other children in critical condition.

After the shooting, a woman leaves the Pawtucket Police Department with a man and a child. he told WCVB He said his father was the shooter.

“He shot my family and now he’s dead,” the unidentified woman said, adding that she “has mental health issues.”

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

Two people died in the tragedy, which authorities said was caused by a “family dispute”

The ice hockey players were not harmed because the clashes occurred in the stands near the spectators.

Footage from the scene shows a man wearing a white beret walking down the stands and opening fire on the crowd.

Hearing gunshots caused other people in the stands to turn their heads and flee the scene as the gunman continued to fire.

He may have been wearing women’s clothing at the time. WJAR reports.

A hockey player also described the chaos he felt on the ice.

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

After the gunshots, my teammates and I ran to the locker room, took shelter, leaned against the door and tried to stay safe there.

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

A hockey player described how he and his teammates barricaded themselves in the locker room after the shooting

The ‘Senior Night’ hockey match was between a co-op team of Coventry and Johnston boys and St. Raphael was playing against another co-op team from PCD, North Providence and North Smithfield schools.

The tournament started at 14:00 and the guns were fired about half an hour later.

‘What was supposed to be a joyful event where dozens of families, students and supporters gathered to celebrate Senior Night was instead marked by violence and fear,’ said Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien.

‘Our prayers are for the victims, their families and everyone affected by this devastating incident.

‘Pawtucket is a strong and resilient community, but tonight we are a city in mourning,’ he continued. ‘We will stand together to support those affected in the difficult days ahead and will keep the public updated as verified facts emerge.’

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

“The North Providence High School cooperative hockey team, which includes North Smithfield, St. Raphael Academy and Providence Country Day School, was playing in a hockey game when the bystander-involved shootings occurred at the beginning of the first period,” he said in a statement.

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

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

Still, Goho shared his condolences for those affected by the shooting, saying: ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with those involved in this tragic incident.’

It was not a school day because of President’s Day, which is a federal holiday.

An unidentified woman was seen crying after the attack.

A father hugs his son outside Lynch Arena after the deadly shooting.

After the shooting, parents and teenagers were seen walking towards the evacuation bus

Tragic photos of the scene showed parents clutching their children as they were evacuated to the car park on Monday afternoon.

The footage also shows parents with their hands on their heads and children crying, some still wearing hockey jerseys.

A large yellow school bus was also seen parked outside the arena with several police officers blocking the scene.

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

After gunshots rang out at the indoor hockey rink, terrified children ran to a nearby Walgreens pharmacy and screamed, an employee said. WPRI.

Police and ATF agents appear to be investigating Monday’s deadly attack

FBI Boston said the agency was aware of the fatal shooting and “responded to the scene.”

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

There is no immediate threat to public safety at this time and there is no request for assistance from the FBI. However, the FBI added that the public should continue to avoid the area.

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee also made a statement saying he was ‘praying for Rhode Island’.

“Our state is suffering again,” Cláudio Manuel Neves said of the tragedy, which occurred a few months after Valente shot 11 people at Brown University, also in Rhode Island.

‘As a governor, a parent and a former coach, my heart breaks for the victims, families, students and everyone affected by the devastating shooting at Lynch Arena in Pawtucket.’

The governor then thanked first responders and asked anyone needing support to call 988.

‘Institutions under my direction are working together this week to provide additional mental health resources to students and families,’ McKee said.

If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the 24/7 confidential US Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. An online chat is also available at 988lifeline.org.