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A highschool senior night time in Rhode Island changed into chaos Monday when a gunman opened fireplace contained in the Dennis M. Lynch Area, killing two folks and critically wounding three others earlier than fatally capturing himself.
In accordance with on-scene protection from WCVB, police say the suspect shot 5 folks contained in the rink. Two victims died, and three stay in crucial situation.
Gamers and households have been bused to the Pawtucket Police Division for interviews as detectives started piecing collectively what occurred.
One lady leaving the police station recognized the gunman as her father.
“My father was a shooter… He shot my household. And he’s useless now,” she informed reporters, including that he “has psychological well being points” and was “very sick,” in accordance with WCVB.
Witnesses described panic erupting within the stands.
Experimenting with hormones which have direct results on the mind https://t.co/kSXupoglgq
— Dr. Naomi Wolf. 8 NYT Bestsellers. DPhil, Poetry. (@naomirwolf) February 17, 2026
“Everyone began leaping over the bench,” one participant stated. “We heard the gunshots, however we didn’t know what the noise was at first.”
One other described barricading the locker room doorways with their our bodies as CPR was carried out within the stands.
Suspect Recognized, Social Media Posts Floor
The New York Submit recognized the shooter as Robert Dorgan, 56, who additionally recognized as Roberta Esposito. The outlet reported Dorgan underwent gender reassignment surgical procedure in 2020 and had been concerned in contentious court docket disputes tied to his identification.
The Submit reported that the night time earlier than the capturing, Dorgan posted on X in response to criticism of transgender Democratic Rep. Sarah McBride:
BREAKING: The Rhode Island trans shooter tweeted YESTERDAY warning that you simply shouldn’t level out that “trans girls” are actually males or they are going to go “berserk.”
Transgender individuals are violent and a hazard to society. pic.twitter.com/ZAhZQQd7na
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 17, 2026
“Hold bashing us. However don’t marvel why we Go BERSERK.”
Authorities haven’t formally confirmed a motive. Nonetheless, Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves stated it seems to have been a focused incident and “could also be a household dispute.”
A number of shops reported the 2 folks killed have been the mom of Dorgan’s hockey-playing son and the coed’s sibling. Three others — together with two kinfolk and a household buddy — have been critically injured.
Since 2018, there have been MULTIPLE mass shootings by the hands of transgenders.
– 2018 – Aberdeen, MD: 4 useless– 2019 – Highlands Ranch, CO: 1 useless, 4 injured– 2022 – Colorado Springs, CO: 5 useless– 2023 – Nashville, TN: 6 useless– 2024 – Perry, IA: 1 useless, 5 injured– 2025 –… pic.twitter.com/6SSRbZT5Q4
— Steven Crowder (@scrowder) February 17, 2026
Good Samaritan Assist Cease the Shooter
Surveillance footage from inside the sector reportedly exhibits gamers diving for canopy and spectators scrambling as gunfire erupted. The New York Submit reported {that a} bystander — the daddy of one other hockey participant — tried to disarm Dorgan.
Sluggish movement video exhibits the second Trans shooter shot his household useless at a hockey recreation in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
pic.twitter.com/JYFIPbrIVb
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) February 17, 2026
“A very good Samaritan stepped in and interjected within the scene, and that’s in all probability what led to a swift finish of this tragic occasion,” stated Chief Goncalves.
The assault unfolded lower than per week after a separate mass capturing in Canada involving a transgender suspect.
Psychological Well being Entrance and Heart
Within the quick aftermath, relations publicly pointed to extreme psychological well being struggles.
Usually, a white male committing a mass public capturing at a hockey recreation in a working class city could be catnip to our media. They’re unusually silent on this one. https://t.co/NusX5ncn3E
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) February 17, 2026
“He’s sick. He’s very sick,” the shooter’s daughter stated outdoors the police station, in accordance with WCVB.
Authorities emphasised that the investigation stays ongoing. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage and persevering with interviews. The three surviving victims had not but been interviewed as of the preliminary press convention because of the severity of their accidents.
WCVB additionally reminded viewers of the 988 disaster hotline for anybody experiencing psychological well being misery.
A Senior Evening Shattered
What was purported to be a celebration for Blackstone Valley seniors as an alternative ended with households embracing outdoors a police station, flowers in hand, and questions with no straightforward solutions.
Robert Dorgan belonged in an asylum
However as a result of it’s “offensive” to try this, he was capable of exit and kiII his circle of relatives throughout a college hockey recreation at the moment pic.twitter.com/FBsCOUxzEP
— Finish Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 17, 2026
As of now, legislation enforcement has characterised the capturing as focused and sure tied to a household dispute. The precise sequence of occasions, and whether or not warning indicators have been missed, stays beneath investigation.
This can be a creating story.
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