How the Rhode Island Hockey Arena Shooting Affected Families and What Police Are Investigating

On Monday, a person identified by police as Robert Dorgan (who also used the name Roberta Esposito) opened fire during a high school hockey game at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The event resulted in the deaths of the shooter’s ex-wife and adult son, while three others were critically injured. This event has drawn significant attention due to the shooter’s personal history, which includes a series of legal battles regarding gender identity, political leanings, and the presence of tattoos often associated with far-right groups. Investigators are now looking into the shooter’s past to understand what led to this violence.

Background of the Shooting and Family Involvement

The shooting took place during a "Senior Night" game, an event meant to celebrate student-athletes. Police reports indicate that Robert Dorgan, 56, entered the arena to watch the match where a relative was playing.

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• Timeline of the Attack: Dorgan entered the arena, left for a short time, and then returned before opening fire on specific family members sitting in the stands.

• Police Response: Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves stated that officers arrived within 90 seconds of the first report.

• The Casualties: Two people died at the scene, and three others were taken to the hospital in critical condition.

• End of Incident: The shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after the attack.

Visual Evidence and Public Records

Following the shooting, images from the shooter’s social media accounts began to circulate. These images show tattoos that have raised questions about the shooter’s beliefs.

"The suspect seems to have a tattoo of a Totenkopf (skull) and two lightning bolts—symbols associated with Nazi Germany." — Newsweek Report

• Tattoos: Photographs of Dorgan show a large "SS" lightning bolt symbol on the bicep and a "Totenkopf" or death's head symbol. While these are widely recognized as Nazi imagery, some experts note these symbols are also sometimes found in prison culture.

• Social Media Content: Online profiles linked to the shooter showed a history of sharing conspiratorial content and posts supporting the Republican party while criticizing Democrats.

• Legal History: Rhode Island court records show decades of civil and family court cases. Rhonda Dorgan had previously claimed in divorce documents that her husband showed "narcissistic" traits.

The investigation is currently focused on whether the shooter's extremist symbols and online behavior were linked to a specific ideology or if the primary driver was a long-standing family dispute.

Deep Dive: Conflicting Perspectives and History

1. Gender Identity and Family Conflict

Court documents show that the shooter's transition and gender identity were a major point of tension within the family. While some colleagues at work knew the shooter as Roberta and described her as someone who spoke often about her family, court records suggest these changes led to significant legal and personal fights with her ex-wife and former in-laws.

2. Extremist Imagery vs. Personal Grievance

There is a debate regarding the shooter’s tattoos. Some observers point to the Nazi symbols as evidence of far-right radicalization. Others suggest the focus should remain on the history of domestic issues. Investigators have found a trail of far-right and "conspiratorial" social media posts, but they have not yet confirmed if these beliefs directly caused the shooting.

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3. Warning Signs and Prior Behavior

Chief Tina Goncalves noted there was "no indication" that violence would happen on Monday. Dorgan had attended many previous hockey games without incident. However, social media posts from the day of the shooting included threats to go "berserk," and divorce papers from years prior mentioned personality disorders. This raises the question: were these warnings overlooked by authorities, or was this an unpredictable escalation?

Analysis of Professional Findings

Law enforcement and social experts are looking at the mix of domestic violence and extremist symbols. Chief Tina Goncalves confirmed the victims were specifically targeted, suggesting the motive was personal rather than a random act of public terror.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) notes that while SS bolts are "white supremacist symbols," their presence on a person does not always mean they belong to a specific group, as they are sometimes adopted in different subcultures.

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"People usually don’t have Nazi tattoos that they display prominently unless they have Nazi sympathies." — The New Republic

Investigators are working with the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office to finalize the details of the shooter’s motives and how the firearm was obtained.

Summary of Investigation Findings

The shooting at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena appears to be a targeted act of domestic violence. While the shooter’s gender identity and alleged extremist tattoos have caused significant public discussion, the evidence currently points toward a long-term family conflict that ended in tragedy.

• Primary Findings: The shooter killed an ex-wife and son during a public event before taking their own life.

• Implications: The case highlights the intersection of domestic disputes and the potential for public violence.

• Next Steps: Police are continuing to review video footage from the arena and analyze the shooter’s digital footprint to determine if anyone else had knowledge of the planned attack.

Sources

• Daily Mail: Robert Dorgan transgender shooter hockey Nazi tattoo

• Daily Mail: Chilling warning signs before gunman killed two at youth hockey game

• The Advocate: Rhode Island hockey mass shooting leaves family shattered

• New Republic: Rhode Island Hockey Game Shooter Had Nazi Tattoos

• Newsweek: Did Rhode Island shooter have a Nazi SS tattoo?

• The Mirror: Hockey game shooter pictured with neo-Nazi tattoos

• Times of India: Rhode Island shooting: Gunman was transgender parent

• Fox News: Rhode Island ice rink shooting suspect's gender identity source of past family conflict

• WDBJ7: Shooter killed ex-wife and a son in Rhode Island ice rink attack