rhode island shooting: ex-wife and son killed; daughter says 'vendetta' against family
Police in Rhode Island say a gunman opened fire inside a Pawtucket ice rink during a high school hockey game on Feb. 16, 2026 (ET), killing his ex-wife and an adult son before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Three other people remain in critical condition while investigators continue to probe what officials describe as a family dispute.
Attack unfolded during a high school hockey game
The shooting occurred at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena as teams were on the ice and spectators were in the stands. Video captured inside the arena shows players diving for cover and fans scrambling as at least a dozen shots sounded. Emergency crews found 56-year-old Robert Dorgan inside the building with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities identified the two victims who died as Rhonda Dorgan, the suspect’s ex-wife, and Aidan Dorgan, an adult son. A 17-year-old family member who was playing in the game was on the ice at the time but was not among the fatalities. Three others were critically injured and hospitalized: the grandparents of Rhonda Dorgan and a family friend, all of whom remain in critical condition.
Family member calls the shooting a 'vendetta'; bystander credited with stopping the attack
A daughter of the shooter, who was in the stands with her two young sons, described the attack as targeted. "I just want to make sure people understand this was one person’s vendetta against their family, " Amanda Wallace-Hubbard said, adding that the shooting was not random.
Wallace-Hubbard credited an unidentified good Samaritan with saving her life and those of her children. Arena footage shows an individual tackling the gunman, and officials say that intervention likely brought a swift end to the violence. "Until that good Samaritan incapacitated him, I really feared that my sons were next, " she said.
Investigation probing motive and background in family dispute
Police recovered two handguns at the scene — a Glock 10mm and a SIG Sauer P226 — and said both were legally owned. Investigators described the incident as stemming from a family dispute and are combing social media and court records as they seek a clearer motive.
Court filings show that Rhonda Dorgan filed for divorce from Robert Dorgan in February 2020. The petition initially referenced disputes over gender transition and personality issues before being revised to cite irreconcilable differences. Records also show past complaints and altercations between family members, including a police complaint filed by the suspect in 2020 alleging threats by an in-law; prosecutors later declined to pursue charges in that matter.
Officials have noted the suspect used multiple names and that he sometimes presented in female clothing. Investigators are treating identity details as part of the broader inquiry but said the immediate focus remains on motive, the sequence of events inside the arena, and verifying witness accounts.
Community response and next steps
Local schools and community leaders expressed shock at the violence at what had been a routine youth sporting event. Authorities continue to coordinate with hospital staff caring for the wounded and are conducting forensic and digital examinations as part of the ongoing investigation. No criminal charges will be filed against the deceased shooter, and police say they will provide a public update as more information becomes available.
The investigation remains active, and officials have asked anyone with additional footage or eyewitness information to come forward to assist in reconstructing the moments that led to the shooting and the role of the bystander who intervened.
