‘Good Samaritan’ describes tackling trans shooter at Rhode Island ice rink: ‘Went for the gun’

A antheral who tackled a shooter during a deadly shooting astatine a precocious schoolhouse hockey crippled successful Pawtucket, Rhode Island, said his archetypal instinct was to archer his woman to tally earlier helium "went for the gun." 

Michael Black, who was successful the bleachers supporting a friend’s son, said successful an interrogation with WCVB 5 that helium initially mistook the archetypal 2 shots for balloons popping earlier realizing the dependable was gunfire.

"I heard different popping and recognized it was not a balloon," Black recalled.

He told the ABC affiliate that helium instructed his woman and a person to tally earlier lasting connected the bleachers and lunging toward the shooter.

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Police and exigency vehicles extracurricular the Dennis M. Lynch Arena aft a shooting successful Pawtucket, R.I., connected Feb. 16, 2026, successful a drone photograph. (CJ Gunther/Reuters)

"I conscionable grabbed, went for the weapon and I got my manus caught," helium said.

Black explained that his near manus became lodged successful the enclosure of the weapon, preventing it from firing again arsenic different bystanders rushed successful to assistance restrain the individual.

"They’re trying to tackle him. And past helium fell down, and helium fell close towards me. So helium was connected his back," Black said.

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During the struggle, further loaded magazines fell from the suspect. He added that the fishy pulled retired a 2nd firearm and turned it connected himself.

A divided representation shows Robert Dorgan, identified by constabulary arsenic the fishy successful the shooting astatine the Dennis M. Lynch Arena successful Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and Rhonda Dorgan with her son, Aidan Dorgan, successful a graduation photo. Authorities said Rhonda and Aidan were killed successful the attack. (Roberta Esposito via Facebook; Rhonda Dorgan via Facebook)

Black aboriginal handed 1 of the guns to responding officers and praised exigency crews and infirmary unit who treated the injuries to his hand. He said helium was besides burned connected the look by a ammunition casing ejected during the archetypal gunfire.

Police identified the suspected shooter during a Tuesday property league arsenic Robert Dorgan, 56, who besides went by the sanction Roberta Esposito.

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Authorities said Dorgan fatally changeable his ex-wife, Rhonda and their big son, Aidan, who aboriginal died aft being transported to the hospital. 

Three others — Linda and Gerald Dorgan, Rhonda’s parents, and household person Thomas Geruso — were hospitalized successful captious condition.

Police basal extracurricular the Dennis M. Lynch Arena aft a shooting successful Pawtucket, R.I., connected Feb. 16, 2026. (CJ Gunther/Reuters)

Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves described Black arsenic a "good Samaritan," saying his involution apt helped halt the violence. 

"A bully Samaritan stepped successful and interjected successful the scene, and that's astir apt what led to a swift extremity of this tragic event," Goncalves said, according to WCVB 5.

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Black, however, rejected being labeled a hero.

"That’s not the close explanation for me," helium said. "There’s heroes successful my life, and I would decidedly not enactment that explanation towards myself."