Trans ice rink shooter's second victim named as his star student son, 23, killed alongside his mother

Trans ice rink shooter's second victim named as his star student son, 23, killed alongside his mother

WATCH: At least two dead after shooting during Rhode Island school ice hockey game

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GB NEWS

James Saunders

By James Saunders


Published: 17/02/2026

- 23:32

Updated: 18/02/2026

- 00:26

Gunman Robert Dorgan's younger son, 17, had to watch on from the ice as tragedy unfolded

The second victim of Monday's tragic shooting in Rhode Island has been named as the gunman's 23-year-old son.

Aidan Dorgan, 23, and Rhonda Dorgan, 52, were both killed in Pawtucket, just outside state capital Providence on February 16.


The gunman was Robert Dorgan, 56, who also used the name Roberta Esposito.

He turned the gun on himself after the attack.

Rhonda was pronounced dead at the ice rink, while Aidan died later at a nearby hospital.

Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said the shooting appeared to be targeted and linked to a family dispute.

And in a heartbreaking update, the gunman's younger son Colin Dorgan, 17, was playing on the ice when the violence erupted.

Video footage captured the Blackstone Valley Schools' hockey captain skating backwards as gunshots echoed through the arena.

The talented defender, wearing his No17 jersey, turned sharply towards the sound before rushing off the rink.

His grandparents also sustained injuries in the attack and remain in critical condition, according to a GoFundMe page set up by Rhonda's stepdaughter Amanda Wallace-Hubbard.

Aidan Dorgan and Roberta Esposito

Aidan Dorgan, 23 (left) and his mother were killed by 'Roberta Esposito' (right) in Pawtucket on Monday

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FACEBOOK

Colin and his 20-year-old sister Ava, a nursing student, have been left orphaned by the tragedy.

"The weight of this loss is something no one should ever have to bear, especially at such young ages," Ms Wallace-Hubbard wrote.

The fundraising campaign collected nearly $13,000 (£9,600) within the first two hours of its launch.

Aidan shared his younger brother's talent for hockey.

He played on the varsity squad throughout his four years at North Providence High School, serving as team captain in his final year.

Robert Dorgan, after changing his name to Roberta EspositoPICTURED: Robert Dorgan, after changing his name to Roberta Esposito | FACEBOOK
Ava, Rhonda, Aidan and Colin Dorgan after Aidan's graduation

PICTURED: Ava, Rhonda, Aidan and Colin Dorgan after Aidan's graduation

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FACEBOOK

The athlete also competed in varsity lacrosse and spent a year on the junior varsity football team.

After graduating in 2021, he studied mechanical engineering at Merrimack College, completing his degree in May last year.

His LinkedIn profile showed he interned at Connecticut-based General Dynamics Electric Boat during his first summer after university.

The company hired him as an engineer in September following his placement.

He and his girlfriend Starr, together for five years, appeared to have become engaged last October.

Players and spectators hug outside the ice rink as police cordon off the scene

PICTURED: Players and spectators hug outside the ice rink as police cordon off the scene on Monday

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REUTERS

His mother Rhonda filed for divorce from Robert Dorgan in 2020, court records from local family courts show.

She initially listed his "gender reassignment surgery, narcissistic and personality disorder traits" as grounds, though these were later amended to "irreconcilable differences which have caused the immediate breakdown of the marriage".

Their divorce was finalised in 2021.

Court documents also revealed Dorgan had clashed with several relatives over his gender identity.

In early 2020, he reported to police that his father-in-law wanted him removed from their shared home following his gender reassignment surgery.

Dorgan claimed his father-in-law threatened to "have him murdered by an Asian street gang if he did not move out of the residence".

Prosecutors later dismissed charges against the father-in-law.

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