The silence of a Monday afternoon hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, shattered into chaos as gunfire erupted at the Dennis M Lynch Arena. Two individuals remained in critical condition Tuesday, locked in a desperate battle for survival after a horrific shooting that left a community reeling.
The gunman, identified as 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, tragically ended the lives of his ex-wife, Rhonda, and their son, Aidan, before turning the weapon on himself. The devastating act unfolded amidst the excitement of a high school hockey game, transforming a scene of youthful energy into one of unimaginable grief.
Authorities confirmed that Dorgan, who had transitioned and identified as Roberta since 2020, had a history of conflict with family members regarding his gender identity. A 2020 police report revealed his father-in-law’s desire for him to leave the family home following gender-reassignment surgery.
Witnesses described a moment of incredible bravery as a bystander intervened, attempting to subdue the shooter. Police Chief Tina Goncalves credited this “good Samaritan” with potentially preventing further loss of life, bringing a swift, though agonizing, end to the tragedy.
Beyond the immediate victims, the shooting cast a long shadow of sorrow over a family already fractured. Aidan and his siblings – a high school hockey player and a nursing student – now face a future without either parent, grappling with an unbearable loss.
Court records paint a picture of a difficult divorce finalized in 2021. Initial divorce filings from Dorgan’s then-wife cited “gender reassignment surgery” and personality traits before being amended to the more common “irreconcilable differences.” At the time, Dorgan was living in Jacksonville, Florida, and working as a truck driver.
Those who knew Dorgan described him attending hockey games dressed in women’s clothing, a detail that underscores the complexities of a life marked by personal transformation and familial discord. The arena, once a place of athletic competition, now stands as a somber reminder of a tragedy that has irrevocably altered the lives of many.
