New details revealed about seconds before trans gunman opened fire at Rhode Island hockey game

Authorities connected Tuesday revealed chilling details astir the moments earlier a transgender gunman opened occurrence wrong a Rhode Island hockey arena, describing what constabulary called a "very targeted" onslaught successful which a begetter methodically approached his household members successful the bleachers and changeable them 1 by 1 during his son’s elder nighttime game.

Robert Dorgan, 56, opened occurrence Monday wrong the Dennis M. Lynch Arena successful Pawtucket during a hockey crippled betwixt Coventry and Blackstone Valley schools, sidesplitting his ex-wife Rhonda Dorgan and lad Aidan Dorgan, earlier fatally shooting himself, according to Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves.

Three different radical were besides changeable and stay successful captious condition, including Rhonda's parents, Linda Dorgan and Gerald Dorgan, and Thomas Giarrusso, a person of the family.

Prior to the shooting, Robert Dorgan was seen entering, leaving, and past reentering the building.

Robert Dorgan, identified by constabulary arsenic the fishy successful a shooting astatine the Dennis M. Lynch Arena successful Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is seen wrong an crystal rink successful an undated photo. Authorities said 2 radical were killed and 3 others were injured successful what they described arsenic a household dispute. (X/@VerdadEsPoder)

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Authorities said helium had 2 guns connected him — a Glock 10 mm and a SIG Sauer P226 — though it is unclear if helium had the weapons erstwhile helium initially entered the building.

During a quality league connected Tuesday, Goncalves described the onslaught arsenic "very targeted," noting Robert Dorgan approached the household "individually" and fired astatine them.

The household was sitting successful the bleachers during the shooting, but constabulary said it appeared determination was nary speech oregon confrontation betwixt the fishy and the victims earlier helium opened fire.

At slightest 3 bystanders, described arsenic household oregon friends of the hockey players, intervened and concisely stopped Robert Dorgan, Goncalves said. At that time, helium reached for a 2nd weapon and fatally changeable himself. 

Robert Dorgan, identified by constabulary arsenic the fishy successful the Pawtucket crystal rink shooting, pictured successful an undated photo. (X/@VerdadEsPoder)

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The constabulary main explained Robert Dorgan had been to his son's hockey games successful the past, and that his beingness Monday was not "unusual."

"There was nary denotation from the household oregon friends that immoderate unit was underway, oregon that they were successful fearfulness of this circumstantial individual," Goncalves said. "… We proceed to look into what the information was. We're not definite astatine this constituent what the trigger lawsuit was that happened yesterday."

Robert Dorgan, who identified arsenic transgender and had a past of household struggle implicit his sex identity, transitioned successful 2020 and socially utilized the names "Roberta Dorgan" and "Roberta Esposito," according to Goncalves.

He was wearing pistillate apparel during the shooting, she said.

Robert Dorgan, identified by constabulary arsenic the fishy successful a shooting astatine the Dennis M. Lynch Arena successful Pawtucket, Rhode Island, connected Feb. 16, 2026.  (X/@VerdadEsPoder)

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Records amusement Robert Dorgan, who was not a Rhode Island resident, had a licence to transportation successful Florida and the 2 weapons utilized successful the shooting were purchased legally.

Goncalves said helium was not known to instrumentality enforcement successful Pawtucket, but "there were immoderate contacts passim the state."

Police confirmed they are conducting respective hunt warrants to find further information, but person not recovered a termination note.

Officials person not yet recovered immoderate links to immoderate extremist groups.

Robert Dorgan, identified by constabulary arsenic the fishy successful a shooting astatine the Dennis M. Lynch Arena successful Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is seen successful an undated photo.  (X/@Tgirlcuda)

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In summation to Aidan, the Dorgans had 2 different children — the precocious schoolhouse hockey subordinate and his sister, who is studying to beryllium a nurse.

This communicative discusses suicide. If you oregon idiosyncratic you cognize is having thoughts of suicide, delight interaction the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline astatine 988 oregon 1-800-273-TALK (8255).