On Tuesday, authorities shared unsettling details about a tragic shooting that took place at a hockey arena in Rhode Island. Police described the incident as a “highly targeted” attack, where a father approached and shot members of his family during his son’s senior night game.
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Gonsalves reported that Robert Dorgan, 56, opened fire at Dennis M. Lynch Arena during a matchup between Coventry and Blackstone Valley schools, resulting in the deaths of his ex-wife Rhonda Dorgan and their son Aidan Dorgan, before turning the gun on himself.
Three others were also shot and are currently in critical condition, including Rhonda’s parents, Linda and Gerald Dogan, along with family friend Thomas Giarrusso.
Witnesses noted that Dorgan had been seen entering and exiting the arena prior to the shooting.
Authorities confirmed that he was armed with two handguns, a Glock 10mm and a SIG Sauer P226, though it’s uncertain whether he had them with him when he first entered the venue.
Gonsalves commented on the attack, indicating it was “very targeted,” emphasizing that Dorgan approached family members directly before firing. Reportedly, there were no verbal exchanges or conflicts prior to the shooting.
As chaos erupted, a few bystanders, likely relatives or friends of the players, intervened, briefly stopping Dorgan before he managed to access another weapon and fatally shoot himself.
Interestingly, Gonsalves mentioned Dorgan had attended his son’s games in the past without any concerns raised about violence. “There was no indication from family or friends that they feared him,” she stated, adding that investigators are still trying to discern what prompted this shocking act.
It’s been revealed that Robert Dorgan, who identifies as transgender and has experienced family discord due to his gender identity, transitioned in 2020. He had been using the names Roberta Dogan and Roberta Esposito socially and was wearing women’s clothing during the incident.
While Dorgan was not a Rhode Island resident, he did have a permit for his guns, which were reportedly acquired legally in Florida. The police noted there have been multiple previous interactions with law enforcement regarding him, but not in Pawtucket specifically.
Authorities are continuing their investigations by executing search warrants to uncover more information, though no suicide note has been found thus far, and they have not identified any connections to extremist groups.
Along with Aidan, the Dorgans had two other children, including a daughter who is studying nursing and another son who plays hockey.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
