Police have verified that the two individuals who lost their lives following a shooting at a high school ice hockey game were the perpetrator’s former spouse and one of their children.
The shooter in the Pawtucket, Rhode Island incident on Monday, February 16, has been identified as 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, also known as Roberta Esposito. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves disclosed that the victims were identified as the shooter’s ex-wife, Rhonda Dorgan, and their adult son, Aidan Dorgan. Additionally, the shooter’s ex-wife’s parents and a family friend sustained injuries during the attack.
Robert Dorgan died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Chief of Police Goncalves stated that there was no apparent interaction or conflict between Dorgan and the victims before the shooting incident.
Reports indicate that Dorgan was employed at a shipbuilding facility in Maine that collaborates with the US Navy. A coworker, Destiny Mackenzie, mentioned that Dorgan, who occasionally went by the name Roberta at work, displayed a volatile temper and engaged in heated arguments with colleagues. Another colleague noted Dorgan’s ambivalence towards transgender acceptance, sometimes expressing pride in transitioning while at other times feeling embarrassed. This colleague mentioned Dorgan’s ownership of firearms, though the exact number was unknown.
Dorgan had a brief stint in the Marine Corps in 1988, separating from service at the lowest military rank after a few months. The shooting took place at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena during a local schools’ match, where a live broadcast captured the chaos as attendees sought cover upon hearing gunshots.
The streaming service LiveBarn, used for youth sports events, has issued warnings on social media against sharing the video without permission.
