Bath Iron Works Worker Identified as Pawtucket Shooter; Two Killed

Pawtucket police identified the shooter in the arena attack as Robert Dorgan, who officials and General Dynamics, Bath Iron Works confirmed was an active employee, after a shooting at Dennis M. Lynch Arena during a youth/high school hockey event that left two people dead and three others wounded and the suspect found dead inside the rink from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves told reporters, "So what I can say right now that we have identified the person, the suspect, by birthname. The birth name was Robert Dorgan. We have also learned that the person does go by the name of Roberta, also uses the last name of Esposito." Authorities said earlier reports withheld victim names until investigators completed notifications.

General Dynamics, Bath Iron Works issued a statement naming Dorgan and expressing condolences: "Robert Dorgan was an active employee with General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims, their families and all those affected by this tragedy. Any further questions related to the investigation should be directed to law enforcement." A BIW spokesman, David Hench, confirmed employment but did not provide Dorgan’s job title or length of service when asked.

Witnesses described chaos inside the Dennis M. Lynch Arena as families fled. Melissa Dunn, a mother of a player, recalled that spectators initially mistook the gunshots for skate banging and later saw paramedics performing CPR in the stands after running back inside: "You don't know what's going on at first... You just hear the loud noises. And we're used to the kids banging on the board with their skates, so we thought it was that at first."

Pawtucket police later identified the two people killed as the suspect’s ex‑wife, Rhonda Dorgan, and an adult son, Aidan Dorgan. Multiple outlets reported three others were wounded; one report said Rhonda Dorgan’s mother, father and a family friend were all in critical condition at hospital. Investigators said they spoke to dozens of witnesses to the attack as part of the probe.

Law enforcement executed search warrants in Maine on the suspect’s Bath apartment, a work locker at Bath Iron Works and a Brunswick storage unit as searches continued Tuesday afternoon into early Wednesday. Maine State Police and FBI agents assisted. Investigators traced a white van with Maine plates to the suspect; a search of the van led to the home address and the Brunswick storage unit.

Items listed by authorities as seized from the Brunswick unit include a sawed-off shotgun, an AR-15-style rifle, a handgun frame, ammunition and firearm accessories, along with mail addressed to Dorgan. Authorities reported recovering an electronic device, ammunition, firearm accessories and personal identification documents from the Bath apartment, and that no items were seized from the work locker. Police recovered a Florida firearms carry permit from Dorgan’s body and said they are not aware of any Rhode Island concealed carry permit connected to him.

Reporting from investigators at NBC Boston says court and divorce records show domestic violence allegations and that family conflict was tied to a gender identity change in early 2020; a witness statement attributed to Dorgan referenced a recent sex change operation and said, "I am now in great fear of bodily harm due to these threats." Records reviewed by investigators show criminal cases were dismissed after Dorgan moved to Florida and that the divorce was finalized in 2021 after nearly 30 years of marriage.

Colleagues and friends described a complicated personal history. A coworker said Dorgan sometimes discussed family and used the women’s bathroom; another colleague described swings between pride in transitioning and embarrassment and said they knew Dorgan owned guns. A friend who asked to be identified only as Kimberley said she met Dorgan in the Jacksonville area about six years ago, knew Dorgan as Roberta, and that Dorgan "loved motorcycles and loved working out" before moving back to New England to be closer to family.

Police have not released an official motive and investigators continue to review witness interviews, search-warrant affidavits and evidence collected in Maine. Bath Iron Works has directed further questions to law enforcement while the inquiry into the deaths of Rhonda and Aidan Dorgan and the wounding of three family members remains active.