Chaos Descends on the Arena (Image Credits: Upload.wikimedia.org)
Pawtucket, Rhode Island – A father identifying as transgender turned a high school hockey game into a scene of horror by targeting his own family members in the stands, killing two and wounding three others before taking his own life.[1][2]
Chaos Descends on the Arena
The shooting unfolded around 2:30 p.m. on February 16 at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena during a matchup between the Coventry/Johnston co-op team and Blackstone Valley Co-op.[1] Spectators heard what they first thought were fireworks or popping balloons, but gunfire soon sent players racing from the ice and families scrambling for safety.[3]
Robert Dorgan, 56, approached his relatives one by one without warning. He fired multiple rounds from two legally owned handguns – a Glock 10mm and a SIG Sauer P226 – before bystanders intervened.[2][3] The rapid attack left the arena in lockdown as police swarmed the site and reunited families outside.
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves called it a “very targeted” act of domestic violence tied to a family dispute, with no broader threat to the public.[4] Responders recovered the weapons and began reviewing witness accounts and livestream footage captured during the game.
A History of Strife and Transition
Dorgan, who also went by Roberta Esposito, had undergone gender-reassignment surgery around 2020 and lived part-time in Florida as a truck driver before recent work in Maine.[1] Court records from his 2020 divorce filing by ex-wife Rhonda Dorgan initially referenced the surgery alongside “narcissistic + personality disorder traits,” though this was later changed to irreconcilable differences.[5]
Tensions escalated that year when Dorgan reported his father-in-law, Gerald Dorgan, for threats including slurs about his transgender identity and warnings of violence if he remained in the family home.[4] Charges against Gerald were dropped after Dorgan relocated. His daughter later described ongoing mental health struggles.
The couple’s son, Aidan, a North Providence High School senior, played in the game that day. Dorgan had attended prior matches without incident, underscoring the sudden nature of the violence.[5]
Victims and Lasting Scars
Rhonda Dorgan and Aidan died at the scene. Gerald and Linda Dorgan, Rhonda’s parents, along with family friend Thomas Giarrusso, suffered critical injuries and fought for their lives in hospital.[3][2]
- Rhonda Dorgan: Ex-wife, killed instantly.
- Aidan Dorgan: Adult son, targeted during his game.
- Gerald and Linda Dorgan: Former in-laws, longstanding family figures.
- Thomas Giarrusso: Family friend in the stands.
An online fundraiser captured the devastation: “Our family has been forever changed by the tragic events at Lynch Arena.”[2] Schools offered counseling, while teams like the Providence Bruins expressed heartbreak.
Broader Context and Ongoing Probe
The episode drew attention amid other recent shootings involving trans-identified individuals, including a Canadian school attack and past U.S. cases, though such events remain rare – fewer than five mass shootings linked to transgender perpetrators in the past decade.[6][7] Officials stressed Goncalves’ view that gender identity played no investigative role here.
Investigators combed Dorgan’s social media and interviewed over 100 witnesses, with federal agencies assisting. No manifesto surfaced, and prior police contacts ended years earlier.[1]
Key Takeaways
- A targeted family assault, not random violence, claimed three lives including the shooter.
- Years of documented conflicts over transition and health fueled the backdrop.
- Bystander action and swift response limited further harm.
This heartbreaking case serves as a stark reminder of how unresolved family tensions and untreated mental health challenges can erupt catastrophically. Communities now grapple with healing while authorities seek full answers. What steps can prevent such tragedies? Share your thoughts in the comments.
