Three killed, several injured in indiscriminate firing at Rhode Island hockey arena in United States

San Francisco (The Uttam Hindu): Three people were killed and three others were seriously injured in a shooting at an ice arena in Pawtucket, USA. According to police, the deceased included the attacker, who shot himself after the incident. The incident took place at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena, where a hockey program involving students from several schools was underway. A large number of students and their parents were present in the arena at the time, causing panic.

According to Xinhua, preliminary investigations indicate that the attacker may have targeted his own family members. A young girl is among the dead. The three people injured by the gunfire remain in critical condition and are being treated at a hospital. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said at a press conference that police arrived at the scene immediately after receiving reports of the shooting and cordoned off the area. All schools involved in the incident have confirmed that all their students are safe and arrangements are being made to reunite them with their families.

Pawtucket, located just north of Providence and on the Massachusetts border, is a city of about 75,000 people. It is the state's fourth-largest city. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee said on social media that the Rhode Island State Police were responding in coordination with local police. He said, "My prayers go out to everyone affected by this incident."

Following the incident, streets around the arena were closed and a heavy police presence was deployed throughout the area. Helicopters also provided surveillance. The incident comes just months after the shooting at Brown University, just a few miles away in Rhode Island. In December, a man opened fire in the Barrs and Holley Engineering Building at Brown University in Providence, killing two students and injuring nine others.