A shooting incident at a youth hockey game in Rhode Island targeted family members, resulting in the death of the shooter’s ex-wife and one son, confirmed Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves on Tuesday. The victims were identified as Rhonda Dorgan and her adult son Aidan Dorgan, with three others sustaining injuries, including the shooter’s ex-wife’s parents and a family friend.
The shooter, 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, also known as Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgano, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Gender identity was mentioned as a factor in Dorgan’s divorce from his wife in 2020 after nearly three decades of marriage.
The incident took place at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, where Dorgan had no prior history of violence. The couple shared the same last name even before marriage, as revealed in court documents.
Before the shooting, Dorgan had engaged online in discussions about transgender issues. A good Samaritan intervened during the attack, which ended when Dorgan fatally shot himself. Dorgan was employed at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, a shipbuilding facility in Maine, contracted by the U.S. Navy.
The shooting incident sparked investigations involving numerous witnesses, with authorities piecing together the events. Governor Dan McKee expressed grief over the tragedy, emphasizing the impact on victims, families, and the community.