Police are releasing more details about the deadly shooting at a Pawtucket, Rhode Island, ice rink during a high school hockey game, and the picture coming into focus is both tragic and disturbing. Authorities say three people, including the shooter, are dead, with three others hospitalized.
At a Monday evening press conference, Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves identified the suspect as 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, who also went by the name “Roberta Esposito.” Police described the incident as a murder-suicide tied to a family dispute, with Dorgan’s gender identity believed to have played a role in long-standing tensions.
Local media reported that in early 2020, Dorgan went to the North Providence Police Department to complain about his father-in-law. He told officers he had recently undergone gender-reassignment surgery and that his father-in-law wanted him out of the family home because of it. Dorgan claimed he had lived there for seven years and quoted the father-in-law as saying, “there’s no goddam way a tranny is going to stay in my house.”
Around that same time, Dorgan’s then-wife Rhonda filed for divorce. Her initial filing cited “gender reassignment surgery, narcissistic + personality disorder traits,” before later changing it to “irreconcilable differences.” Court records show the divorce was finalized in June 2021. Dorgan later moved to Jacksonville, Florida, and reportedly worked as a truck driver. Rhonda Dorgan was one of the victims killed in Monday’s shooting.
The attack occurred at Dennis M. Lynch Arena around 2:30 p.m. during a Senior Night game, possibly involving the Coventry–Johnston and Blackstone Valley co-op teams. One of Dorgan’s children was allegedly on the ice at the time and was not believed to be injured.
NBC 10 reporter Dan Jaehnig cited a law enforcement source who said the suspect may have been dressed in women’s clothing when he targeted family members in the stands.
An X account possibly linked to Dorgan—though not confirmed—showed the user responding to actor Kevin Sorbo with a warning: “keep bashing us. but do not wonder why we Go BERSERK,” after Sorbo commented on a transgender member of Congress.
The incident follows another recent tragedy, in which a transgender 18-year-old killed seven students and a teacher at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia, Canada, last week.
This horrific event underscores how unresolved family conflicts, mental health struggles, and ideological pressure can explode into violence when ignored. The focus now must remain on justice for the victims and protecting innocent families and children from further harm. Strong law enforcement, clear accountability, and support for those affected will ensure that even in the darkest moments, order and safety still prevail.
