Rhode Island Ice Hockey Shooting Victims Identified as Suspect’s Ex-Wife, Son

A deadly shooting at the Dennis M Lynch Arena in Pawtucket on Monday has led to the deaths of Rhonda Dorgan and her adult son, Aidan Dorgan. Authorities confirmed the shooter, Robert Dorgan, also known as Roberta Esposito, took his own life after the attack, which appears to have been a targeted family dispute.

Witnesses described the scene of chaos as shots were fired during a high school ice hockey game, with players and spectators scrambling for safety. A bystander who intervened helped end the incident, according to Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves.

Rhonda Dorgan’s mother and father, as well as a family friend, were also injured in the attack and remain in critical condition. Police have not yet determined a motive, but a history of tension between the suspect and his former in-laws has surfaced, including a 2020 divorce petition that cited “irreconcilable differences” following allegations of threats.

Court records reveal that Dorgan had previously filed a police report accusing his father-in-law of threatening his life, although the charges were later dismissed. Social media posts by the suspect are being reviewed, but authorities emphasized that Dorgan’s gender identity was not a focal point of the investigation.

A family statement shared on a fundraising platform expressed the profound impact of the tragedy: “Our family has been forever changed by the tragic events at Lynch Arena.” It also highlighted the critical condition of the grandparents.

Dorgan, employed by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, was remembered by the company as a victim in this devastating incident.

Witnesses, including Melissa Dunn, a mother whose son played in the game, described scenes of panic as the gunfire erupted. Dunn recounted hearing loud noises, initially mistaking them for the usual sounds of the game, before realizing it was gunfire. She rushed to find her son and later saw paramedics performing CPR on victims in the stands.

The shooting has sent shockwaves through the local community, with many families now grappling with the horror of the incident. Investigations are ongoing, and authorities continue to interview witnesses.