Police Confiscate Firearms in Rhode Island Hockey Rink Murder-Suicide
Law enforcement officials have seized a significant cache of weapons and ammunition connected to a devastating murder-suicide that unfolded at a high school hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The incident, which occurred on Monday, saw Robert Dorgan, who also identified as Roberta Esposito, open fire on family members, resulting in two fatalities and multiple critical injuries before taking his own life.
Deadly Attack at Dennis M. Lynch Arena
The shooting erupted during a hockey match at Dennis M. Lynch Arena, where Dorgan's son was participating. Dorgan, 56, fatally shot his ex-wife, Rhonda, and their son, Aiden, during the violent outburst. Additionally, gunfire struck Dorgan's former in-laws, Linda and Gerald Dorgan, as well as Shea High School assistant principal Thomas Geruoso. All three victims remain hospitalised in critical condition, fighting for their lives.
Extensive Police Searches Yield Arsenal
In the aftermath, a multi-agency investigation involving Pawtucket County Police, Maine State Police, and the FBI led to searches of Dorgan's apartment, work locker, and a storage unit in Brunswick, Maine. Authorities confiscated an AR-15 rifle, a sawed-off shotgun, ammunition, and various firearm accessories from the storage facility. Further discoveries at Dorgan's apartment included additional ammunition and gun accessories, alongside an electronic device and personal identification documents. Notably, Dorgan was carrying two handguns when he committed suicide, and nothing was found in his work locker.
Investigation Traces Weapons and Motive
Surveillance footage from the hockey arena captured a white van with Maine license plates, registered to Dorgan, prompting the expanded investigation into Maine. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives traced two handguns back to the shooting scene. Records indicate Dorgan purchased a 10mm Glock in Florida in 2021 and a Sig Sauer P226 in Rhode Island in 2019. He also possessed a Florida gun permit at the time of his death.
During the attack, a courageous bystander managed to wrestle one firearm away from Dorgan, but the shooter produced a second weapon and turned it on himself. Police have characterised the incident as stemming from a "family dispute," noting that Dorgan was seen conversing with relatives shortly before the violence erupted.
Complex Family Dynamics and Troubled History
Dorgan's daughter from a previous marriage, Amanda Wallace-Hubbard, has spoken out, describing her father as someone who "struggled with demons." She emphasised that his gender identity was not a factor in the family rift, attributing it instead to deeper, long-standing issues. "Gender identity was not remotely a factor in him being ostracized from the family; it really was just a symptom of something that had been going on that was much deeper his entire adult life," Wallace-Hubbard told the New York Post, suggesting Dorgan harboured a vendetta against his family.
Wallace-Hubbard and her young children witnessed the shooting, adding to the trauma. Dorgan had six children from multiple relationships, including an eldest son, Kevin Colantonio, who is currently serving a federal prison sentence for arson at a predominantly black church. In response to the tragedy, Wallace-Hubbard has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to support her half-siblings, Ava and Colin Dorgan, who lost both parents in the murder-suicide.
Disturbing Online Presence and Ideology
Dorgan's social media profiles revealed extremist views, including self-descriptions as "to the right of Hitler," a Nazi-inspired tattoo, and past expressions of support for white power movements. Shockingly, just one day before the shooting, he posted an anti-Asian slur in response to a video praising Adolf Hitler and issued a threat to go "BESERK."
The divorce from his ex-wife, finalised in 2021, initially cited gender reassignment surgery and personality disorders as grounds, though these were later amended to irreconcilable differences. As the investigation continues, authorities are piecing together the full scope of this heartbreaking case, which has left a community in mourning and raised urgent questions about family violence and firearm access.
