Third Victim Gerald Dorgan Dies in Pawtucket Ice Rink Shooting; Family Mourns Rhonda and Aidan Dorgan as Investigation Continues.

PAWTUCKET, R.I. — The tragic toll of a brazen shooting at a youth hockey game in Pawtucket has risen once more. Authorities confirmed on Wednesday that a third victim, 75-year-old Gerald Dorgan, has succumbed to the injuries he sustained during the Feb. 16 attack at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena .

Gerald Dorgan, who had been hospitalized in critical condition since the shooting, was the grandfather of two other victims and the father of another, marking the attack as an unimaginable loss for a single family. His death was confirmed by the Pawtucket Police Department, deepening the grief surrounding what officials have described as a targeted family dispute .

The shooting, which occurred just before 3 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 16, has sent shockwaves through the community. Police previously identified the two victims who died at the scene or shortly after as Rhonda Dorgan, 52, and her adult son, Aidan Dorgan, 23 . They were Gerald’s daughter and grandson, respectively.

According to police, the shooter, 56-year-old Robert Dorgan—who also went by the names Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgan—opened fire on the family as they watched a high school hockey game . The suspect, who was the ex-husband of Rhonda and father of Aidan, died at the scene from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after being confronted by bystanders .

The Attack and the Heroes in the Stands

The incident unfolded during a Senior Night hockey game between the Coventry/Johnston co-op team and a Blackstone Valley schools co-op program . The family, including Rhonda’s mother Linda Dorgan and a family friend, Thomas Geruso, were seated in the stands watching the youngest grandson play .

Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves detailed that the shooter entered the arena, sat for a period, and then suddenly began firing on the family . There was no prior confrontation or argument immediately before the shooting .

In the ensuing chaos, as players fled the ice and spectators screamed, several bystanders acted heroically. Chief Goncalves confirmed that at least three individuals rushed the shooter, subduing him physically . This intervention was credited with bringing a “swift end” to the attack. However, during the struggle, the shooter managed to access a second firearm and died by suicide .

The Victims: A Family Decimated

The loss has left a hole in the fabric of the North Providence and Pawtucket communities.

· Rhonda Dorgan, 52, was identified as the shooter’s ex-wife. Court records show she filed for divorce in February 2020, citing irreconcilable differences .
· Aidan Dorgan, 23, was a recent graduate of Merrimack College and worked for Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut . He was described in a college hockey recruiting profile as a young man eager for a chance to prove himself, and he was at the rink supporting his younger brother . Witnesses reported that he was shot while trying to defend his mother .
· Gerald “Jerry” Dorgan, 75, fought for his life for over a week following the attack. As the grandfather and father-in-law of the shooter, his death solidifies the extent of the family tragedy. His wife, Linda Dorgan, 75, and family friend Thomas Geruso, the assistant principal at Charles E. Shea High School in Pawtucket, remain hospitalized. Their conditions have not been released, though they were previously listed as critical .

The Shooter and the Investigation

Robert Dorgan, a 56-year-old employee of the Bath Iron Works shipyard in Maine, was identified as the sole suspect . Authorities recovered two legally purchased firearms from the scene: a Glock 10mm pistol and a SIG Sauer P226 .

Investigators are combing through a complex history. Court documents reveal a contentious divorce in 2020, where Rhonda initially cited “gender reassignment surgery, narcissistic + personality disorder traits” as grounds, though the filing was amended to “irreconcil differences” . Chief Goncalves has stated that while the shooter appeared to be wearing women’s clothing at the time and used the names Roberta, this aspect is “irrelevant to the investigation” and the focus remains on the act of violence itself .

The shooter’s social media activity is also under review. A profile associated with the account “tgirlcuda” contained thousands of posts with a mix of political content, including far-right rhetoric and mentions of personal identity struggles . Despite this digital footprint, Chief Goncalves noted there was no prior indication of violence, as the shooter had attended many hockey games in the past without incident .

Community Response

In the wake of the tragedy, Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien expressed his profound sorrow. “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victim’s family, friends, and all those impacted by this tragic act of violence,” he said in a statement following Gerald Dorgan’s death .

Governor Dan McKee also addressed the state’s grief, noting that this marks another mass casualty event just months after the Brown University shooting in December . “Our state is grieving again,” McKee said. “As governor, a parent, and a former coach, my heart breaks for the victims, families, students, and everyone impacted” .

The Rhode Island Interscholastic League suspended all games following the incident, and grief counseling services have been made available at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center for those affected .

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to review the events leading up to the shooting and the shooter’s background. The family has requested privacy as they navigate the unimaginable loss of three loved ones and continue to pray for the recovery of the two remaining survivors .