Kevin Colantonio, the troubled son of Rhode Island shooter Robert Dorgan, was incarcerated last year for setting fire to several predominantly Black churches, as reported.
Colantonio, one of Dorgan’s six children from three different relationships, is currently serving a nearly seven-year sentence in a federal facility in Texas. His conviction stems from the intentional fires he started at Shiloh Evangelical Temple Ministries in North Providence in February 2024, where he used gasoline and a lighter.
The church, which serves mainly a Black congregation of about 100 members, was empty when the flames erupted. After the incident, Colantonio reportedly sent a letter to family members describing the church as a place for “atheist scoffers.”
Authorities discovered a disturbing notebook in Colantonio’s possession, which contained deeply racist statements such as, “Shoot all non-whites, spread the gospel if you’re white, and always give a chance to our blood.” He received a 78-month prison sentence in June and is now at the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth.
Community members suggest that Dorgan, who was involved in a shooting incident at a high school hockey game that resulted in multiple fatalities, may have influenced Colantonio’s extreme racial views.
Dorgan, who transitioned and is now known as Roberta, has a history of promoting anti-Semitic and racist ideologies on social media, including a disturbing neo-Nazi tattoo. Just a day before the shooting spree, Dorgan commented on a video glorifying Adolf Hitler with an anti-Asian slur.
In several posts, Dorgan made repeated references to “white power” and “global white pride.” Colantonio is related to Aidan Dorgan, who was killed during the father’s attack. The motive behind Dorgan’s violence remains unclear, but authorities note evident resentment towards the family.
According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Colantonio is expected to be released in December 2029.
