Pawtucket, Rhode Island – A shooting at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena on Monday, during a youth hockey game, resulted in three deaths, including the suspect, and left three others injured. Authorities have identified the victims as Rhonda Dorgan and her son, Aidan Dorgan, both fatally shot by Rhonda’s ex-husband, Robert Dorgan, according to Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves.
The incident, which unfolded on Monday afternoon, appears to be a targeted act of domestic violence, with the shooter specifically seeking out his former family members. The three individuals injured were identified as the parents of the shooter’s ex-wife and a family friend. The suspect, 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, who also went by Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgano, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police stated.
Chief Goncalves emphasized that there was no prior indication of potential violence at the arena, noting that Dorgan had attended numerous hockey games previously without incident. The shooting has deeply impacted the community, prompting an outpouring of grief and questions about the circumstances leading to the tragedy. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities having interviewed nearly 100 witnesses as of Monday evening, attempting to reconstruct the events that transpired inside the Dennis M. Lynch Arena.
Family Dispute and Prior Legal Filings
The shooting is believed to be connected to a family dispute, and court filings reveal a complex history between Robert and Rhonda Dorgan. Rhonda Dorgan filed for divorce in 2020 after nearly 30 years of marriage, initially citing “gender reassignment surgery, narcissistic + personality disorder traits” as reasons, before crossing those out and stating “irreconcilable differences which have caused the irremediable breakdown of the marriage,” according to court documents. Details regarding the couple’s shared last name prior to marriage remain limited, with authorities not providing further information at this time.
Adding another layer to the situation, a day before the shooting, under the name Roberta Dorgano, Robert Dorgan reportedly responded to online posts by actor Kevin Sorbo and Infowars host Alex Jones, expressing frustration with criticism directed towards transgender individuals, stating that such criticism is “why we Go BERSERK.” This online activity is being examined as investigators attempt to understand the motivations behind the shooting.
“Good Samaritan” Intervention and Shooter’s Background
The swift end to the attack was attributed to an unnamed “good Samaritan” who intervened, according to Chief Goncalves. Bystanders were able to contain the shooter, but Dorgan was able to retrieve a second firearm before ultimately dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Robert Dorgan was employed by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, a shipbuilding facility in Bath, Maine, that contracts with the U.S. Navy, according to a statement from shipyard spokesperson David Hench to the Associated Press. Hench did not disclose Dorgan’s specific job title or length of employment. Former colleagues described Dorgan as sometimes going by Roberta at work and occasionally discussing their hockey-playing son, but rarely mentioning an ex-wife. One colleague, Destiny Mackenzie, also noted that Dorgan had a temper and was prone to arguments with coworkers.
Dorgan’s military service was brief, enlisting in the Marine Corps on April 26, 1988, but receiving a separation with the lowest military rank less than three months later, on July 13 of the same year, according to military records.
Community Response and Recent Tragedies
The shooting has left the Rhode Island community reeling, coming less than two months after a separate shooting at Brown University in Providence, which resulted in two deaths and nine injuries, as well as the death of the shooter, Claudio Neves Valente, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in New Hampshire. Witness Michael Steven, who recorded video after the shooting, described the scene as heartbreaking, recalling crying parents searching for their children and young people being transported from the arena on stretchers.
“It happens far too often in our nation,” Steven told reporters.
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee expressed his sorrow in a statement, saying, “Our state is grieving again. As governor, a parent, and a former coach, my heart breaks for the victims, families, students, and everyone impacted by the devastating shooting at Lynch Arena in Pawtucket.”
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting and are working to provide support to the families affected by this tragedy. The community is left to grapple with the aftermath of this senseless act of violence and to mourn the loss of Rhonda and Aidan Dorgan.
As the investigation progresses, further details are expected to emerge regarding the events leading up to the shooting and the motivations behind the suspect’s actions. The focus will remain on supporting the victims’ families and ensuring the safety and well-being of the Pawtucket community. Share your thoughts and condolences in the comments below.
