In the late winter of 2026, a community in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, was shattered by a tragic act of violence that unfolded during a high school hockey game. On the afternoon of February 16th, at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena, families and friends had gathered to cheer on their local high school teams. The game was a "Senior Night" matchup, a celebratory event for the players, but it quickly turned into a scene of horror.
In the stands, amidst the cheers and the sounds of the game, 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, who also went by the name Roberta Esposito, opened fire on members of their own family. The sudden eruption of gunfire sent shockwaves of panic through the arena as spectators scrambled for safety. The attack was not random; it was a targeted act of domestic violence that would leave a family and a community reeling from the devastating consequences.
The immediate aftermath of the shooting was chaotic and heartbreaking. When the violence subsided, it was clear that the toll was immense. Robert Dorgan, the shooter, had taken their own life at the scene. The primary targets of the attack were Dorgan's ex-wife, 52-year-old Rhonda Dorgan, and their 23-year-old son, Aidan Dorgan, both of whom were fatally wounded. The violence also extended to other family members present. Rhonda's mother, Linda Dorgan, and her father, 75-year-old Gerald Dorgan, were both critically injured in the attack. A family friend, Thomas Geruso, was also wounded. The incident, which was partially captured on a livestream of the hockey game, brought a swift and massive response from law enforcement and emergency services. The investigation that followed would delve into a history of family conflict and personal struggles that were believed to have culminated in this horrific event.
In the days and weeks that followed, the full extent of the tragedy continued to unfold. While Linda Dorgan and Thomas Geruso were hospitalized with serious injuries, Gerald Dorgan's condition remained critical. Nine days after the shooting, on February 25th, Gerald succumbed to his injuries, bringing the total number of fatalities to four, including the shooter. The community mourned the loss of Rhonda, a dedicated mother and healthcare worker, Aidan, a beloved son and brother, and Gerald, a loving husband, father, and grandfather. The case, a murder-suicide, was a stark reminder of the devastating impact of domestic violence. As there was no surviving suspect to prosecute, the legal chapter of this tragedy closed with the death of the perpetrator. The overview of the case is one of a deeply troubled individual who, in a public and violent act, ended the lives of three family members and injured two others before taking their own life, leaving behind a legacy of pain and loss for the survivors and the community at large.
