On February 16, 2026, a mass shooting occurred at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, during a high school boys' hockey game. The incident took place at approximately 2:30 PM during a "Senior Night" match between the Coventry/Johnston co-op team and the Blackstone Valley Co-op. The shooting resulted in three deaths, including the perpetrator, and left three others critically injured.

The Incident

The shooting began in the stands during gameplay, causing immediate panic among the dozens of spectators and student athletes. Witnesses reported hearing a rapid burst of 11 to 13 gunshots. Many players initially mistook the sound for skates banging against the boards or balloons popping before fleeing the ice to barricade themselves in locker rooms. The violence ended after a "Good Samaritan" intervened, which police credit with preventing further tragedy. The gunman was found dead at the scene from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Victims and Targeted Nature

Authorities described the shooting as a targeted act of domestic violence stemming from a family dispute. The fatalities included:

• The perpetrator’s daughter, who died at the arena.

• The perpetrator’s wife, who passed away after being transported to the hospital.

• The perpetrator himself.

The three injured victims, identified as family members and a family friend, were hospitalized in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital.

The Perpetrator

The shooter was identified as Robert K. Dorgan, a 56-year-old resident of North Providence. Dorgan, who also used the names Roberta and Roberta Esposito, was the father of a senior student playing in the game.

Court records and family statements revealed a troubled background:

• Mental Health: Dorgan’s daughter stated that he suffered from mental health issues.

• Gender Identity and Disputes: Dorgan was transgender and had undergone gender-reassignment surgery in 2020. This transition was a central point of contention in several family disputes and played a role in his 2020 divorce from his wife, Rhonda.

• Social Media: Posts attributed to Dorgan's accounts revealed extremist, racist, antisemitic, and pro-Nazi views.

Aftermath and Official Response

In response to the tragedy, Governor Dan McKee and Mayor Don Grebien issued statements of mourning and established mental health support services, including a 211 hotline and grief counseling at the Blackstone Valley Visitor's Center. The Rhode Island Interscholastic League temporarily suspended all high school games statewide out of respect for the victims.

The event also reignited calls for stricter gun control. Advocates from organizations such as Moms Demand Action and Stop Gun Violence demanded legislative action, specifically citing the need for safe storage laws and "red flag" laws to prevent individuals in crisis from possessing firearms. This tragedy occurred only two months after another mass shooting at Brown University in nearby Providence.

AI tools were used in the translation.

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