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 documented history of conflict with family members regarding his gender identity. In 2020, he reported to police that his father-in-law demanded he leave the family home following gender-reassignment surgery.
Witnesses described a harrowing scene, but also spoke of extraordinary courage. A bystander, a “good Samaritan,” bravely intervened, attempting to subdue the shooter and potentially preventing further bloodshed. Police Chief Tina Goncalves credited this intervention with bringing a swift, though tragically late, end to the violence.
The aftermath leaves behind a shattered family, including two siblings – a high school hockey player and a nursing student – now orphaned by the senseless tragedy. They are left to navigate a future without either parent, grappling with a loss that defies comprehension.
Court records reveal a difficult divorce finalized in 2021, initially citing “gender reassignment surgery, narcissistic + personality disorder traits” before being amended to “irreconcilable differences.” At the time of the divorce, Dorgan was living in Jacksonville, Florida, and working as a truck driver.
Those who knew Dorgan described him as sometimes attending hockey games dressed in women’s clothing, a detail that underscores the complexities of a life marked by personal transformation and apparent 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.
