Just a week after a man identifying as transgender carried out a tragic incident in western Canada, another event has raised concerns. This time, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, another man, presenting as a woman, allegedly targeted individuals at a local skating rink.
On Monday afternoon, families and supporters gathered at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena to watch a high school hockey match featuring Blackstone Valley School against Coventry Johnson co-op. However, Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien noted that what should have been a celebratory occasion turned into one overshadowed by violence and fear.
A man, reportedly dressed as a woman and armed, opened fire, resulting in two fatalities and three others critically injured, at least two of whom are believed to be children.
That same evening, the Coventry public schools announced that all students affected by the incident had been released and declared safe. Both Providence Country Day School and St. Raphael Academy also confirmed the safety of their students.
Footage from the arena shows players fleeing the ice and fans taking cover as gunshots rang out—about 13 in total. As reported by the Providence Journal, there was a distinct pause before the final shot echoed through the arena.
Police were alerted to the situation around 2:30 p.m. and arrived swiftly. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Gonsalves stated that the quick response from a good Samaritan who intervened likely aided in resolving the situation sooner than expected. Unfortunately, the shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Senator Jack Reed expressed gratitude for the first responders and those who courageously confronted the shooter.
The suspect has been identified as Robert Dougan, 56, who goes by the name Roberta Esposito. Authorities indicated that while the motive remains unclear, the incident seemed to be targeted and might have been related to a family dispute.
A woman, who chose not to disclose her name, revealed to WCVB-TV that her father was the shooter, expressing immense heartbreak for her family and mentioning that the gunman struggled with mental health issues.
Court documents reveal past tensions between Dougan and family members, including complaints made against a stepfather over housing and previous allegations made against his mother. Notably, Dougan’s divorce from his wife, Rhonda, had initially cited mental health struggles and issues related to gender reassignment surgery but was later attributed to irreconcilable differences.
This latest event adds another case to a troubling pattern of violent incidents involving transgender individuals. Recent history includes a school massacre in Canada, a shooting at a church in Minneapolis, and other planned attacks that have sparked national concern.
