A transgender father opened fire at a Rhode Island youth hockey game, killing two family members and injuring three others in a chilling act of domestic violence that exposes disturbing connections between unresolved mental health issues, family court failures, and a violent online threat posted just hours before the massacre.
Watch the video in the first tweet below.
Story Snapshot
- Robert Dorgan, 56, killed his ex-wife and child at his son’s hockey game before taking his own life on February 16, 2026
- Years of family conflict stemming from the 2020 gender reassignment surgery led to dismissed assault charges and a bitter divorce
- Dorgan posted an ominous “Go BERSERK” threat on social media one day before the shooting
- Police confirm targeted family dispute with no broader public threat; three victims remain in critical condition
Targeted Attack at Youth Hockey Game
Robert Dorgan, also known as Roberta Esposito, entered Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, during a high school hockey game on February 16, 2026, and opened fire on family members. The 56-year-old shooter killed two people, believed to be his ex-wife and child, and critically wounded three others, including children and a family friend. Dorgan then turned the gun on himself.
Police Chief Tina Goncalves confirmed the incident appeared to be a targeted family dispute with no threat to the broader community. The shooter’s son was playing in the game between Coventry and Blackstone Valley schools when the violence erupted.
Family Breakdown Following Gender Transition
The roots of this tragedy trace back to 2020 when Dorgan underwent gender reassignment surgery, triggering a cascade of family conflicts. Dorgan had lived at his father-in-law’s house for seven years before transitioning. Following the surgery, Dorgan reported his father-in-law for making derogatory transgender slurs and threatening violence through an alleged “Asian street gang.”
He also accused his mother of assault. Both cases were dismissed by the authorities. His ex-wife filed for divorce in 2020, initially citing the surgery and “narcissistic + personality disorder traits” before amending the grounds to irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized in June 2021, after which Dorgan relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, to work as a truck driver.
Transgender father Robert Dorgan ID’d as RI hockey shooter who gunned down family as sick posts are revealed. https://t.co/5wcAaEz5h0
— Dave Bondy (@DaveBondyTV) February 17, 2026
Chilling Social Media Warning
On February 15, 2026, just one day before the shooting, Dorgan posted an ominous message on X (formerly Twitter) in response to actor Kevin Sorbo: “Keep bashing us. But do not wonder why we Go BERSERK.” This explicit threat went unheeded, and within 24 hours, Dorgan carried out the deadly attack. His daughter later described her father as “very sick” with significant mental health issues.
The social media post raises serious questions about warning signs that authorities and family members may have missed. This incident occurred just days after another mass shooting in Canada’s Tumbler Ridge Secondary School involving a transgender gunman, who killed nine and injured 27, highlighting a disturbing pattern that mainstream media has been reluctant to address.
Investigation and Community Impact
As of February 17, 2026, the three injured victims remain in critical condition while detectives continue interviewing witnesses and establishing a complete timeline. Victim identities have not been officially released pending family notification. The hockey community and families present at the game witnessed chaos and terror, with parents and children fleeing the arena.
This tragedy underscores failures in our family court system, which ignored multiple warning signs and allowed unresolved conflicts to escalate. The incident also highlights the need for better mental health intervention when personality disorders and family violence indicators emerge during contentious divorce proceedings.
Law-abiding Americans understand that protecting children and families must take priority over political correctness when serious mental health red flags appear.
Sources:
Hockey match shooter’s messy split with wife over gender surgery – The Telegraph
Hockey Rink Mass Shooter Identified, Shared Chilling Post Before Incident – iHeartRadio
