A dad made a chilling final post before open firing at a high school hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on Monday (February 16), leaving two dead and three injured.
The violence erupted at approximately 2:30 p.m. local time inside Lynch Arena, where families, students, and supporters had gathered for ‘senior night’ – a tradition honoring graduating players from Blackstone Valley Schools’ hockey programs.
What began as a community milestone quickly descended into chaos when an armed individual opened fire inside the packed rink.
Mayor of Pawtucket, Don Grebien, described the Rhode Island shooting as a ‘terrible tragedy,’ sharing that people had come together to celebrate the student-athletes’ achievements.
“Family and friends were gathered today at a hockey game at Lynch Arena to celebrate senior night, bringing together communities across the state,” Grebien said.
“Instead, an act of senseless violence has taken the lives of two innocent victims, with the suspect taking his own life.”
Students hid in lockers
Students who were on the ice when the Rhode Island shooting began have since recounted the confusion and terror of those first moments.
One player said the initial shots were mistaken for balloons popping in the arena.
Coventry player Olin Lawrence claimed: “I was on the ice and I thought it was balloons at first – it was like ‘bop, bop,’ and I thought it was balloons, but this kept going – and it was actually gunshots.
“Me and my teammates ran right to the locker room and we just bunkered up and we pressed against the door and we tried to stay safe down there.
“But it was very scary, we were very nervous.”
Within seconds, players and coaches scrambled to safety.
Officers located one victim deceased inside the arena; a second later died due to fatal injuries at a nearby hospital. Both are believed to be adults.
According to Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves, three victims remain in critical condition and are ‘fighting for their lives.’
However, authorities believe the swift intervention of a bystander helped prevent further bloodshed.
Who is the suspected shooter?
Police later identified the suspected shooter as 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, who also went by the name Roberta Esposito. Authorities confirmed they died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene.
Investigators have indicated the Rhode Island shooting appears to have stemmed from a domestic dispute involving family members in attendance at the game.
Reports suggest the suspect targeted their wife and three children before turning the weapon on themself.
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee confirmed that an investigation is underway, adding that his thoughts are with the victims.
In a statement, he said: “As Governor, a parent, and a former coach, my heart breaks for the victims, families, students and everyone impacted by the devastating shooting at Lynch Arena in Pawtucket.”
FBI issues statement
FBI director Kash Pate posted on X (formerly Twitter) to inform citizens that officers were responding to the fatal Rhode Island shooting.
He wrote: “We will provide state and local law enforcement any and all resources necessary and keep the public updated as we are able. In the meantime please pray for the victims and their families.”
The dad’s chilling final post
Several social media posts attributed to the dad have surfaced since they were named as the prime suspect in the fatal shooting.
They reveal that Dorgan shared a number of racist, anti semitic, and pro-Nazi views.
One of their final posts, dated February 15, saw Dorgan reply to a video edit praising Nazi leader Adolf Hitler with the following comment: “Really nice but a c***k made that song.”
Another post dated to February 16, the day of the attack, saw the father incorrectly refer to the President of Switzerland as Jewish.
According to court documents obtained by WPRI, Dorgan separated from their wife Rhonda in 2020, due to differing opinions on ‘gender reassignment surgery as well as ‘narcissistic + personality disorder traits.’
