A targeted shooting at a Rhode Island ice hockey arena has culminated in a devastating family tragedy, with authorities confirming the victims as the suspect’s ex-wife and adult son. The incident occurred Monday at Dennis M Lynch Arena in Pawtucket during a high school hockey match, sending players and spectators into panic as gunfire erupted.
Police identified the deceased shooter as Robert Dorgan (also known as Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgan), who apparently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following the attack. The victims were confirmed as Rhonda Dorgan, the shooter’s ex-wife, and their son Aidan Dorgan. Three additional family members—Rhonda’s parents and a family friend—sustained critical injuries and remain hospitalized.
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves stated that two legally owned firearms were recovered from the scene: a Glock 10mm pistol and a SIG Sauer P226. Chief Goncalves credited a bystander’s intervention with helping to swiftly conclude the tragic event, though no confrontation preceded the shooting according to investigators.
Court documents reveal Rhonda Dorgan had filed for divorce in February 2020, initially citing “gender reassignment surgery, narcissistic + personality disorder traits” as grounds before changing to “irreconcilable differences.” That same month, the shooter had filed a police report alleging threats from his father-in-law, who used derogatory language toward transgender people. Though criminal charges were initially filed, they were subsequently dismissed.
Police are examining thousands of the suspect’s social media posts but emphasize that gender identity remains “irrelevant to the investigation at this point.” The shooter was reportedly wearing female clothing during the incident.
A family statement posted for an online fundraiser expressed how the family has been “forever changed by the tragic events” and noted the grandparents’ critical condition. General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, the suspect’s employer, extended sympathies to all affected by the tragedy.
Eyewitness accounts describe the chaos that unfolded as families scrambled to safety. Melissa Dunn, whose son participated in the game, recounted hearing loud noises initially mistaken for routine arena sounds before realizing the danger. She described returning to the arena to find paramedics performing CPR in the stands—an image she characterized as “really disturbing.”