PAWTUCKET, R.I. — The man accused of carrying out a deadly shooting at a Pawtucket ice rink on Monday had a documented history of family conflicts, some of which involved disputes over gender identity, according to court records.
Authorities say 56-year-old Robert Dorgan opened fire at the rink during what police described as a family-related incident. Two people were killed and three others were injured before Dorgan fatally shot himself, police confirmed.
At a late-night press conference, Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said Dorgan also went by the name “Roberta.” Court documents indicate that issues surrounding Dorgan’s gender identity were part of several domestic disputes in recent years.
2020 Police Complaint Involving Father-in-Law
In early 2020, Dorgan contacted the North Providence Police Department to report that he had recently undergone gender-reassignment surgery and was facing hostility from his father-in-law, with whom he had been living.
According to court records, Dorgan told police that his father-in-law wanted him to move out of the home and allegedly threatened violence if he refused. Dorgan reported that he had lived at the residence for approximately seven years and claimed the father-in-law used derogatory language while insisting he would not allow a transgender person to remain in the home.
The father-in-law was charged with intimidation of witnesses and victims of crimes and obstruction of the judicial system. However, prosecutors later dismissed those charges.
Divorce Proceedings and Family Tensions
Around the same time as the police complaint, Dorgan’s then-wife, Rhonda Dorgan, filed for divorce.
Initial court paperwork listed “gender reassignment surgery” and “narcissistic + personality disorder traits” as grounds for divorce. Those reasons were later crossed out and replaced with “irreconcilable differences which have caused the immediate breakdown of the marriage.” The divorce was finalized in June 2021.
Divorce filings show that Dorgan was living in Jacksonville, Florida, at the time and working as a truck driver.
Court documents from 2020 also show that Dorgan accused his mother of assaulting him and behaving in a “violent, threatening or tumultuous manner.” She was charged with simple assault and battery and disorderly conduct. That case, too, was later dismissed.
According to police records, Dorgan told authorities that his father-in-law had urged him to drop the assault charges against his mother and allegedly warned that further retaliation could follow if he did not comply.
An attorney for Dorgan’s mother did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Investigation Continues
Details surrounding Monday’s shooting remain under investigation. Authorities have not publicly identified the victims, though police have described the incident as rooted in an ongoing family dispute.
The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence released a statement Monday night describing the events as “deeply painful” and emphasizing the broader impact of domestic violence.
“While details are still emerging, we know that violence within families and intimate relationships can have devastating and far-reaching impacts,” the group said. “Domestic violence does not stay behind closed doors. It affects children, extended family members, and entire communities.”
Law enforcement officials have not indicated whether prior disputes directly contributed to Monday’s violence, but the history outlined in court records paints a picture of prolonged familial tension.
As investigators continue to examine the circumstances leading up to the shooting, community members are grappling with the aftermath of a tragedy that unfolded in a public space typically associated with recreation and family activities.
Police have urged anyone with additional information about the incident to come forward as they work to complete their investigation.
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