56-year-old transgender man kills wife and shoots three of his children at a hockey game

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Express newspaper

17/02/2026 18:49

A mother of three who was allegedly shot by her transgender ex-husband during their son's high school hockey game has been identified.

Robert Dorgan, 56, is believed to have killed Rhonda Dorgan, 52, and injured their three children in Pawtucket.

The shooting began just before 14:30 p.m., with police arriving within two minutes of the first 911 call and finding three people dead and three seriously injured.

Robert was among the victims, while police believe the perpetrator died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

A family friend is suspected to be the last person shot during the attack. Authorities have not yet officially confirmed the identities of the victims.

According to court documents obtained by WPRI, Dorgan underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2020.

This decision is suspected to be a possible motive for the attack, while police are investigating a family conflict between Dorgan and his ex-wife.

Around the same time as the surgery, one partner filed for divorce citing “gender reassignment surgery, narcissistic traits, and personality disorders.” A few weeks later, the reason was replaced with “irreconcilable differences that have led to the immediate dissolution of the marriage.”

Dorgan was the father of a North Providence High School senior who was participating in the school hockey tournament.

Police Chief Tina Goncalves confirmed that Dorgan is the prime suspect: "We have identified the individual with the birth name Robert Dorgan. We have also learned that he used the first name Roberta and the last name Esposito."

Just the night before the attack, Dorgan responded to a post against trans people on social media by writing: "Keep attacking us, but don't be surprised why we get angry."

The family problems also included a 2020 report to the North Providence Police Department, where the suspect accused his father-in-law of using slurs against trans people and even claimed that he had threatened to kill him from a street gang.

Three victims remain in critical condition in hospital. Dorgan is believed to have been armed with multiple weapons; witnesses said a heroic bystander managed to snatch one of the weapons from him after the first shots were fired. A second weapon was later pulled out and police found two guns at the scene./Express newspaper/