A tragic incident unfolded at a Rhode Island ice rink on Monday when a suspect, identified as transgender, allegedly shot and killed two individuals. The suspect had previously expressed anger on the social media platform X after an actor referred to Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., as a man.
Rep. Sarah McBride is recognized as a transgender woman.
The suspect, 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, reportedly became upset following a post by actor Kevin Sorbo. Sorbo had commented on X, referring to McBride as “Tim McBride” and questioning her gender, accompanied by a photo of the Delaware representative.
Dorgan, who identified online as Roberta Dorgano, reacted by posting, “Keep bashing us. But do not wonder why we Go BERSERK,” showcasing visible frustration.
In another interaction on the platform, Dorgan replied to Infowars host Alex Jones, who had labeled Sorbo’s comment as “So creepy.”
The incident took place at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Authorities have reported that the shooting, which resulted in two fatalities and three injuries, stemmed from a family dispute. Robert Dorgan, identified by police as the shooter, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“stfu (shut the f— up) Alex dont be so butt hurt over somebody different. then wonder why trans ppl go fkn BERSERK,” Dorgan wrote.
The posts came one day before Dorgan is accused of opening fire inside the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket during a hockey game between Coventry and Blackstone Valley Schools in what police described as a “family dispute,” Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said.
“It appears that this was a targeted event, that it may be a family dispute,” Goncalves said.
Video from inside the arena shows players diving and fans fleeing their seats as shots rang out during the high school game. At least a dozen shots can be heard in the footage, along with people screaming as they scramble for cover.
Authorities said two people were killed and three others were critically injured. Dorgan died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
A source with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives told Fox News the gunman killed his wife and shot three of his children before turning the gun on himself in what the source described as a domestic violence incident.
Police have not publicly identified a motive.
A screenshot shows an X post from an account attributed to Robert Dorgan in which he wrote, “Keep bashing us. But do not wonder why we Go BERSERK,” in response to a post about Rep. Sarah McBride one day before the shooting at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. (Screenshot via X, X/@ksorbs; X/@Tgirlcuda)
McBride responded to the shooting in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“This is a horrific and evil crime and I hope the murderer rots in hell,” McBride said. “My prayers are with the victims and their loved ones mourning right now.”
Investigators are continuing to review surveillance footage and witness accounts as they piece together a timeline of the shooting.
It comes as court records show Dorgan had a documented history of conflict with relatives in recent years, including disputes tied to his gender transition, WPRI reported.
In 2020, Dorgan reported to North Providence police that he had undergone gender-reassignment surgery and said his father-in-law wanted him out of the family home because of it.
A screenshot shows X posts from an account attributed to Robert Dorgan responding to actor Kevin Sorbo and media personality Alex Jones one day before the shooting at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. In one post, Dorgan wrote, “Keep bashing us. But do not wonder why we Go BERSERK.” (X/@ksorbs; X/@RealAlexJones; X/@Tgirlcuda)
According to court documents cited by WPRI, Dorgan alleged his father-in-law used a derogatory term for transgender individuals and threatened retaliation if he did not move out. The father-in-law was charged at the time, though prosecutors later dismissed the case.
Court filings also show Dorgan’s then-wife initially cited “gender reassignment surgery, narcissistic + personality disorder traits” in divorce paperwork before the grounds were amended to “irreconcilable differences.”
The divorce was finalized in 2021. Divorce records list Dorgan as living in Jacksonville, Florida, at the time and working as a truck driver.
Police respond outside the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, after a shooting on Feb. 16, 2026, left two people dead and three others injured in what authorities described as a family dispute. At right is Robert Dorgan, identified by police as the suspect, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images; X/@VerdadEsPoder)
Also in 2020, Dorgan accused his mother of assaulting him and acting in a “violent, threatening or tumultuous manner,” according to police records cited by WPRI. His mother was charged with simple assault and battery and disorderly conduct, though the case was later dismissed, court records show.
The dispute was also referenced in Dorgan’s conflict with his father-in-law. According to court documents, Dorgan told police his father-in-law “told me that if I did not drop the assault charges against my mother that further retaliation could be expected and that was another reason to have me killed.”
