Two individuals remain in critical condition following a deadly shooting incident at a Rhode Island ice rink, as reported by Fox News. The victims are currently “fighting for their lives,” according to the latest updates.
Fox News learned from a family source that 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, who was transgender and had experienced previous family disputes related to his gender identity, was responsible for the tragic event. Dorgan fatally shot his former wife, Rhonda, and his son, Aidan, before turning the gun on his former in-laws.
The violent episode unfolded on Monday afternoon during a high school hockey game at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena located in Pawtucket.
Police responded to the scene at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena after receiving reports of the shooting on February 16, 2026. The incident resulted in two fatalities and three injuries, which authorities have attributed to a family conflict. The suspect, Robert Dorgan, was later found to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. (Photo credits: Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images; X/@VerdadEsPoder)
Lamentably, Dorgan took his own life after the incident, according to authorities. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves acknowledged the bravery of a “good Samaritan” who intervened in an attempt to restrain the shooter.
“We can confirm that a courageous bystander intervened during the chaos, likely contributing to the swift resolution of this tragic incident earlier today,” Chief Goncalves remarked on Monday night.
In addition to this son, two other siblings – a high school hockey player and his sister who is studying to be a nurse – have been left behind without either parent.
Robert Dorgan, identified by police as the suspect in the Pawtucket ice rink shooting, pictured in an undated photo. (X/@VerdadEsPoder)
People who know the family well told Fox News that Dorgan transitioned back in 2020 and started going by the name Roberta.
That same year, 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.
Dorgan would sometimes attend hockey games dressed in women’s clothing, such as tight denim shorts and tight tops.
Police stand 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)
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.
