Suspect ID'd in Pawtucket ice rink shooting that left two dead: What we know

[Jessica_Rose ✅]

Suspect ID'd in Pawtucket ice rink shooting that left two dead: What we know

https://www.providencejournal.com/live-story/news/crime/2026/02/16/live-coverage-shooting-at-pawtucket-ri-ice-rink/88709322007/ 🔗

Mark Reynolds, Paul Edward Parker, Jacob Rousseau, Antonia Noori Farzan (16 Feb 2026)

Two people were killed by a lone gunman in a shooting at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena, a local skating rink in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and three others are in critical condition.

Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves confirmed that the shooter, identified as Robert Dorgan, who also went by the name Roberta Esposito, appears to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police have not identified any of the victims, but said that the shooting was "targeted" and appeared to be a family dispute.

Multiple jurisdictions, including the Rhode Island State Police, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and several local police departments responded to the incident on Monday afternoon, Feb. 16.

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There have now been two tragic shootings in the last week where the shooter appears to have been transgender. While this is a statistical anomaly (the vast majority of mass shootings are by cisgender males), be prepared for a renewed attack on our community.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

[Lori Dee ✅]

Other shootings are happening. These are the two getting headlines.
Gee, I wonder why?

[BrianaJ]

I thought the same thing.  There are other tragic shootings but this is getting the media coverage.  The public comments that go along with posted articles/videos are even more troubling. 

[Jillian-TG]

Other shootings are happening. These are the two getting headlines.
Gee, I wonder why?

Yip that's the problem. Out of 100 shootings 99 can be cis gender males and 1 transgender person. Only one will be profiled - the lone transgender shooter.

[Charlotte_Ringwood ✅]

The problem is some people's attitudes to trans people are so venomous. I've experienced it in the usual comments sections. I don't get how they get so worked up and hateful. Do they not realize that most trans people just goto work, go home, shop, rest and have boring lives just like they do?

The media is honestly the cause of almost all hate these days.