The Rhode Island Interscholastic League announced Monday afternoon via social media that it was temporarily suspending all high school games in the wake of that day's fatal shootings at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket.
As reported by The Providence Journal, playoffs in basketball, hockey and other winter sports were set to kick off later this week and next week, but exactly when the playoffs will start remained in question as of Tuesday.
"During this extremely difficult time, the RIIL has made the decision to temporarily suspend all interscholastic games out of respect for the victims and to reflect upon this senseless act of violence," the RIIL's post read.
Per the Journal report, the high school sports schedule this week is relatively light, as most high school sports in Rhode Island are about to enter the playoffs. State championships have already been held in indoor track and gymnastics. The few remaining games were to finalize seeding.
In a Monday night press conference, police identified the suspect who killed two and critically injured three others in Monday's shooting at the Lynch Arena before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The shooter was identified as Robert Dorgan, who also went by the name Roberta Esposito.
Pawtucket Police chief Tina Goncalves confirmed that the shooting was targeted and appeared to stem from a family dispute, the Journal reported.
Related: Three Dead, Several in Critical Condition After Shooting at HS Hockey Game
Rhode Island Hospital said on Tuesday that there had been no change in condition for the three patients suffering from gunshot wounds.
Officials at Monday's press conference also said that Lynch Arena will be closed to all events throughout the investigation.
In addition to high school hockey games, Lynch serves as the home rink for the Johnson & Wales University men's and women's hockey teams. Lynch is also an occasional practice site for the Providence Bruins, as well as one of many sites used by the Providence Capitals youth hockey league, the Journal reported.
