Transgender-Identifying Shooter Kills Two At Rhode Island Hockey Game Before Taking Own Life
A man who identified as a woman opened fire at a high school hockey game in Rhode Island, killing two people and critically injuring at least three others before taking his own life. The shooting unfolded Monday night at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket during what had been scheduled as a senior night celebration for the Blackstone Valley Schools cooperative hockey team.
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves confirmed that the suspect, identified as Robert Dorgan, who went by the name Roberta Esposito, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene. Authorities believe the attack was targeted and stemmed from a family dispute, though investigators have not publicly identified the victims or clarified the exact relationships involved.
Video circulating on social media appears to show Dorgan’s daughter leaving a police station and telling reporters that her father “shot my family” and that “he’s dead now.” She added that he struggled with mental health issues and described him as “very sick.”
Court records from 2020 show that Dorgan had undergone gender reassignment surgery. Around that time, according to police documents, Dorgan told North Providence officers that his father-in-law had attempted to remove him from the home following the surgery. His wife later filed for divorce. Initial court paperwork cited gender reassignment surgery and alleged personality disorder traits before being amended to list irreconcilable differences.
Law enforcement officials have not released details about the firearm used in the attack. Federal agencies, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, responded to assist state and local authorities in the investigation.
The shooting sent panic through the packed arena, where players and families had gathered for the senior night event. Melissa Dunn, the mother of one player, told reporters that at first people were confused by the loud noises. “You don’t know what’s going on at first,” she said. “You just hear the loud noises, then you realize something is very wrong.”
Police continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to the attack. Officials have urged anyone with additional information or video footage from inside the arena to contact authorities as they work to piece together a clearer timeline of events surrounding the deadly incident.