Updated: Fatal Shooting a “targeted family dispute” at Lynch Arena, Pawtucket. 3 dead, 3 critical. (video)

UPDATES:

Our original story is below – updates for 2/18:

* The State of RI has set up a virtual support website page – SUPPORT HUB – the site contains mental health services and contacts people can access to help them, their children, or those they work with or go to school with access helpful information at this time.

* An older daughter in the family acknowledges a lifelong problem of her father’s domestic violence and mental illness.

* The shooter no longer lived in RI – he lived in Maine, but often came to town to watch his son’s hockey games.

* Shooter had 2 legal guns in his possession, with multiple magazines of ammunition. He was licensed to conceal carry in Florida.

* The story has garnered worldwide attention, particularly because the shooter identified as a woman and had gone through transition surgery.

* Hockey coaches involved are emotionally talking about helping their young people deal with what has happened.

* The man who jumped the shooter has given interviews saying that he jammed his hand into the gun and prevented it from shooting – in the struggle, they both fell and the shooter took out another gun and put it in his mouth, shot and died.

* There was much struggle within the family having to do with his violence, his trans lifestyle and appearance. His in-laws asked him to leave the home they owned prior to being divorced from his then wife, Rhonda.  Family said “he was ostracized from the family” for his history of abuse and violence.

* The in-laws and family member who were shot are still in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital

* Several vigils are being held for hockey families to attend, around Rhode Island.

* RI Republican Party statement: “Rhode Island, like much of the country, is confronting a profound mental health and crisis. Families are bearing the weight of that crisis at a scale we can no longer dismiss as incidental. That weight now hits closer to home than ever before. As we move forward, we must look at all root causes of this act of violence and not shy away from discussions and serious policy decisions about mental health, treatment, and the wider impact on the community. There is no one-fix solution, but an honest evaluation of harmful policies is much-needed to stem any future violent acts from harming Rhode Islanders.”

* Many ice rinks have opened up for hockey and skating, though interscholastic sports has temporarily suspended games:

STATEMENT from RI Interscholastic League:

“The RIIL is aware of the tragic shooting at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket.  Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by this horrific event.  We are actively working with our member schools and have been in contact with the Governor’s Office, the Rhode Island Department of Education and other community leaders to provide aid and support. During this extremely difficult time, the RIIL has made the decision to temporarily suspend all interscholastic games out of respect for the victims and to reflect upon this senseless act of violence.” – we understand meetings are being held about next steps.

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Shooting at Pawtucket hockey game leaves three dead, others critical; community reels

A shooting during a high school hockey game Tuesday afternoon at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket left three people dead and three others critically injured, sending players, families, and spectators scrambling for safety.

The incident occurred during a co-op hockey team matchup between Coventry-Johnston and the St. Raphael–Providence Country Day–North Providence–North Smithfield teams. The hockey game was being held as part of Senior Night festivities and drew a sizable crowd. While the arena was not at full capacity, the President’s Day holiday contributed to a strong turnout.

The gunfire took place in the spectator area near the Zamboni storage section and did not involve any of the student athletes or individuals on the ice. Authorities described the incident as a “targeted family dispute

Chaos erupts inside arena

As gunfire erupted, players quickly left the ice, rushing across the rink into the team locker rooms while spectators sought cover or fled the building.

A livestream taking place during the game captured the moments shots rang out. The incident unfolded on the far right side of the arena, largely outside the camera’s field of view, but gunfire could be heard on the broadcast.

Authorities said approximately 13 to 15 shots were fired, all from the single shooter. Closer segment from the stands – shooter is in coat with pom-pom hat.

Players flee; nearby businesses offer refuge

In the chaos that followed, hockey players fled the building, some still wearing their skates and helmets, and carrying their sticks, running across the street to a nearby Walgreens. The store manager, seeing the unfolding emergency, repeatedly unlocked and secured the door to allow players and family members to shelter inside. One woman paced while speaking on her phone, clutching a water mug that visibly shook in her hand.

Shooter identified; “family dispute” explained

The shooter was identified as Robert Dorgan, 56, who also went by the name Roberta Esposito. Authorities said he was the father of six children; his step-son, Colin or Colon, was said to be one of the team’s goaltenders.

Officials said the victims were family members, ex-wife, Rhonda, who was killed. His son, Aiden, was shot and killed. His in-laws were shot – status unknown. A close friend of a family member was shot, status unknown.  Robert died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police towed away his large white van with Maine plates. He was later identified as working for General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine.

Witnesses and press described the shooter as being dressed in women’s clothing and carrying a pocketbook. He wore a coat and a hat with a pom-pom, that partially obscured long, light-colored hair he was known for.

Public social media accounts under the name Roberta Esposito include numerous photos and videos.

Individuals familiar with the incident indicate ammunition may have been purchased the day before at a sporting goods retailer. Police have not publicly verified that information.

Daughter speaks publicly

A daughter of the shooter spoke briefly with reporters outside the Pawtucket Police Department, confirming that the gunman “was my father†and saying he had “killed my family.†She described him as having struggled with mental illness and said he was “very sick.â€

VIDEO: Daughter identifies her father outside Pawtucket Police Department – from WCVB-5, Boston:

pic.twitter.com/EghZcZbk9g

— RINewsToday (@RINewsToday) February 17, 2026

 

Victims transported; community impact widens

Three people were pronounced dead, including the shooter. Three additional victims were transported to Rhode Island Hospital, all in critical condition.

Charles Lombardi, mayor of North Providence, said the shooting involved a family from his community, underscoring the deep local impact across the region’s close-knit hockey network.

City and town officials from the communities represented by the teams confirmed that all players, coaches, and team staff members are safe.

Massive emergency response

Police and emergency responders from surrounding communities rushed to Pawtucket to provide mutual aid, bringing a large multi-agency presence to secure the scene, manage crowds and traffic, and support medical response efforts.

There was no police detail known to be assigned to the arena during the game. It was not immediately clear whether police presence is typical for high school hockey events at the facility.

The familiarity to the Brown University shooting was mentioned by reporters and observers, some being interviewed who lived in the local Pawtucket area, about 5 miles away from Brown.

Information spreads rapidly

Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves led a hastily assembled sidewalk briefing near the arena, emphasizing the investigation remained early on, but did provide reassurance that the incident was, except for the one victim, contained all to one family.

Some media members expressed frustration that widely circulating details could not yet be confirmed. Several skaters and family members said they were advised by school or law enforcement officials, not to speak to the media.

Within an hour, the shooting was being reported nationally, with Fox News among the first networks to carry the story. Local television and radio reporters rushed to the scene, many arriving from their day off. On WPRO radio, a WPRI-TV12 reporter provided live updates while station staff mobilized. Meanwhile, “X” became a hub for real-time information — both accurate and unverified — as clips from the livestream also quickly spread online.

Politicians on gun violence

In the hours following the tragedy, local and state elected officials issued statements condemning what they described as “senseless gun violence†and offering condolences to the victims and the hockey community. The statements focused on grief and public safety; none addressed the family’s description of the shooter’s mental health struggles.

A hockey community shows solidarity

The Rhode Island Interscholastic League announced that all RIIL games are temporarily suspended “out of respect for the victims and to reflect upon this senseless act of violence.â€

By evening, signs of solidarity began appearing across the close-knit hockey community. In a long-standing tradition known as “Sticks Out for RI,†players and families placed hockey sticks outside their homes — a quiet symbol of mourning, support, and unity.

Authorities continue to investigate. Identities of the victims have not yet been released.

This is a developing story.