Police Identified the Shooter as Robert Dorgan, a Father of One North Providence Senior Playing Hockey
PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND (February 17, 2026) – At least three people have died, and three more were injured in a shooting at a high school hockey game at Lynch Arena in Pawtucket.
Providence County officials say the incident occurred around 2:30 PM on Monday. Robert Dorgan, who also went by Roberta Esposito, entered the Lynch Arena and began shooting. A bystander in the hockey rink was able to grab the gun from the shooter. But it appears that Dorgan had a second weapon.
At some point during the encounter, the perpetrator turned the gun on themself and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Pawtucket Police Chief said that it appears the shooting was part of some type of ‘targeted family dispute.’
Police and paramedics were called to the scene of the shooting to help all of the victims. In addition to the shooter, two people lost their lives, and three people were hospitalized. The two people killed were the gunman’s ex-wife, Rhonda Dorgan, and adult son, Aidan. The other three hospitalized and in critical condition are Rhonda’s parents and a family friend.
Liability for Rhode Island Mass Shootings
Any person who opens fire on innocent bystanders in Rhode Island is likely to be charged with multiple serious crimes. In addition to the criminal consequences of any shooting, a property owner could also face legal liability. Property owners in Rhode Island have a legal responsibility to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. They must protect guests and other invitees from foreseeable sources of harm, including criminal acts. There are a number of ways a school or other property owner may have acted negligently and failed to prevent a mass shooting.
- Inadequate Security: A school may fail to screen or control entry points. This includes failing to check bags for any type of weapons.
- Warnings: A school may have failed to respond to prior warnings or known disputes between people at any event.
- Negligent Supervision: A school may have failed to oversee any event that they were in control of.
- Venue Rules: A school may have failed to enforce venue policies prior to any incident. This includes allowing people to trespass, bring alcohol, or act violently.
Liability for any shooting will ultimately depend on whether or not the criminal act was reasonably foreseeable. When violence is reasonably foreseeable, property owners must take certain actions. Failing to take those actions could form the basis of a negligence claim. There are many different indicators that could make gun violence or other crimes foreseeable.
Steps to Take for Victims and Families After a Mass Shooting
Mass shootings remain an alarmingly common occurrence each year across the United States. These incidents have unfortunately become more frequent. According to the National Institute of Justice, “Sixteen of the 20 deadliest mass shootings in modern history (i.e., from 1966 through 2019), occurred between 1999 and 2019, and eight of those sixteen occurred between 2014 and 2019.” It is important that certain actions are taken after any mass shooting at a public venue.
- Medical Treatment: Victims should seek medical treatment as early as possible. Many of the injuries associated with a shooting are not immediately obvious. In particular, victims are routinely left with long-term psychological harm.
- Evidence Preservation: All of the evidence associated with the shooting should be preserved. This will include surveillance footage that may have captured the incident and photos of the aftermath.
- Security Measures: All of the security measures in place prior to the incident should be carefully scrutinized.
- Legal Review: Victims and their surviving family members should seek the legal guidance of a team experienced in premises liability and negligent security claims.
Many shootings and other crimes are typically preventable when premises have appropriate safety precautions in place. This is why it’s so important that these incidents are thoroughly investigated by an outside party, such as an experienced injury attorney.
Investigating Pawtucket Mass Shootings
We at DiBella Law extend our deepest condolences to the families of all of the victims. It is our sincere hope that the survivors will make a full recovery. This was a senseless tragedy that should have never taken place. Any person with additional information about what happened should contact the Pawtucket Police Department.
Do you need more legal information about the Pawtucket mass shooting? Our team of premises liability attorneys is here for you. We are committed to helping victims understand their rights and protecting those rights through skilled advocacy. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to our office anytime at (617) 870-0907.