Rhode Island Hockey Game Shooting: What We Know About the Tragedy

A shooting at a high school hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on February 16, 2026, left two people dead and three critically wounded before the gunman took his own life. The incident occurred during a Blackstone Valley Schools hockey game at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena, sending shockwaves through the community.

The Shooting and the Victims

Robert Dorgan, 56, who also used the name Roberta Esposito, opened fire in the stands during the game, targeting his ex-wife, Rhonda Dorgan, and son, Aidan Dorgan, 23. Rhonda was pronounced dead at the scene, and Aidan died later at the hospital. Three others – two relatives and a family friend – were critically injured and remain hospitalized as of February 21, 2026. WPRI

Dorgan was a first cousin once removed to Rhonda, and the couple shared three children: Aidan, Ava, 20, and Colin, 17. After the shooting, Dorgan died by suicide.

Colin Dorgan’s Perspective

Colin Dorgan, a senior and captain of the Blackstone Valley Schools hockey team, was on the ice during the shooting. Video footage shows him briefly looking towards the sound of gunfire before he and his teammates quickly skated toward the rink exit. Times Now News

Photographer Chip DeLorenzo captured a photograph of Colin with his mother and brother shortly before the shooting, which may serve as a lasting memory for the family. DeLorenzo expressed hope that the photo would bring comfort to the family. WPRI

Background and Motives

Robert and Rhonda Dorgan divorced in 2021, with court documents initially citing Robert’s gender reassignment surgery and “narcissistic + personality disorder traits” as reasons for the split. Rhonda later amended the reason for divorce to “irreconcilable differences.” Daily Mail

Investigators have not released further details regarding the specific motives behind the violence. Times Now News

Community Impact

The shooting has deeply impacted the local community. No players on the ice were injured during the incident. Times Now News