A youth hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, turned into a scene of horror Monday afternoon, Feb. 16, 2026, when a gunman opened fire inside the Dennis M. Lynch Arena, killing two family members and critically injuring three others before taking his own life. The shooting, which unfolded around 2:30 p.m. during what was supposed to be a celebratory “Senior Night,” left families scrambling for safety as brave bystanders rushed to stop the attack.
Police identified the shooter as 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, who also went by the name Roberta Esposito. Authorities say Dorgan specifically targeted family members in the stands, killing his ex-wife Rhonda Dorgan and their adult son Aidan Dorgan. Three others remained in critical condition as of Tuesday: Rhonda Dorgan’s parents, Linda and Gerald Dorgan, and family friend Thomas Geruso.
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves described the violence as deliberate and focused.
The attack at the arena in Pawtucket, located a few miles outside of Providence, sent players diving for cover and fans fleeing in panic. The game was being livestreamed by LiveBarn, a streaming platform for youth sporting events. Videos shared on social media captured the chaos as popping sounds echoed through the rink, followed by screams and the frantic rush of people seeking safety.
What could have been far worse was prevented by the quick actions of several spectators who confronted Dorgan. Michael Black, one of the Good Samaritans, described the harrowing moments when he spotted the gun and made a split-second decision to intervene.
“I saw the gun, and I took a step and jumped down, grabbed the gun, tried to knock the person down — which I was able to do. I was able to get the gun away,” Black told reporters. His hand became jammed in the slide mechanism of the gun during the struggle, requiring nine stitches but preventing additional shots from being fired.
As Black and at least two other bystanders worked to subdue Dorgan, the shooter reached into a pocket and pulled out a second firearm. Before anyone could react, Dorgan took his own life. Chief Goncalves credited the Good Samaritans with bringing the attack “to a swift end.”
Investigators have spoken with nearly 100 witnesses as they work to determine what drove Dorgan to commit such violence. Authorities confirmed the shooting was family-related but have not yet established a clear motive. Dorgan had attended many previous hockey games to watch family members play without incident, according to police.
Dorgan worked as an employee at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, a shipbuilding facility in Bath, Maine, that contracts with the U.S. Navy. Destiny Mackenzie, a colleague who often spoke with Dorgan about family matters, recalled that Dorgan’s hockey-playing son was a frequent topic of conversation.
Mackenzie wrote in a message to The Associated Press that the tragedy had robbed seniors of their playoff chance and left families with images they would carry forever. She called for a reconsideration of gun laws, expressing sorrow that firearms end up in the hands of troubled individuals.
Mackenzie described Dorgan as having a bad temper that sometimes led to screaming matches with colleagues. Another coworker, speaking anonymously, said Dorgan appeared conflicted about transgender identity issues, alternating between pride and embarrassment.
Military records revealed Dorgan’s brief service in the Marine Corps. He enlisted on April 26, 1988, but separated from the service less than three months later on July 13 with the lowest military rank. Maj. Jacoby Getty, a Marine Corps spokesman, told The Associated Press that the rapid discharge indicated “the character of his service was incongruent with Marine Corps’ expectations and standards.”
The shooting comes nearly two months after Rhode Island experienced another tragedy when a shooting at Brown University left two students dead and wounded nine others. That shooter, Claudio Neves Valente, also fatally shot a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor before being found dead in a New Hampshire storage facility.
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee expressed his grief, writing that the state was “grieving again.” He added that as a governor, parent, and former coach, his heart breaks for everyone impacted by the devastating shooting at Lynch Arena in Pawtucket.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the bureau responded to the scene and provided resources to state and local law enforcement. The FBI stated there is no imminent threat to public safety.
Michael Steven, who recorded video in the aftermath, recalled the heartbreaking scenes of crying parents trying to locate their children and young people being carried out on stretchers. Multiple vigils have been held as the community processes yet another act of violence.
As memorials grow outside the arena, investigators continue searching for answers. They have yet to locate a suicide note but are reviewing thousands of social media posts. Authorities confirmed that both firearms used in the attack were legally purchased. Search warrants are being executed in multiple states, including at a storage facility in New Hampshire.