Monday’s deadly shooting at a Rhode Island hockey rink left three dead and two more critically injured in what was discovered to be a family dispute.
The shooter, Robert Dorgan, who also went by the names Roberta Dorgana and Roberta Esposito, shot and killed his ex-wife and son, injured his ex-wife’s parents, as well as a friend of the family. Dorgan shot and killed himself.
Dorgan’s gender identity and reassignment surgery was at the center of Robert/Roberta and Rhonda’s divorce after 30 years of marriage, and a documented court history showed violent discord among the family members. Robert and Rhonda shared the same last name before their marriage because they were first cousins, once removed. Rhonda’s parents, Gerald and Linda Dorgan, are hospitalized and recovering from their injuries. Gerald apparently had threatened Robert/Roberta in the month prior to the hockey rink shooting.
Reich Wing History
MAGAsphere figures quickly focused on the transgender history of the shooter.
On the day before the shooting, Dorgan had responded on X to anti-transgender posts by actor Kevin Sorbo and Infowars conspiracy theorist Alex Jones by saying that constant criticism of transgender people is “why we Go BERSERK.”
The digital history of Dorgan also showed a large Nazi-friendly tattoo on a bicep, and a social media account that describes political beliefs “to the right of Hitler.”
Local Rhode Island news outlet WPRI-12 reported today that another of Dorgan’s biological sons, Kevin Colantonio, set fire to a predominantly Black church in North Providence two years ago.
Colantonio was sentenced last year to six years in prison. The church was empty at the time of the fire, and no one was injured.
Police found notebooks of hateful writings in Colantonio’s home, including an entry he wrote to “gun everyone down that isn’t white, if one is white spread the gospel. Always give our bloodline a chance.”
People close to the family told reporters anonymously that the father, Robert Dorgan, had fueled the racist hatred his son espoused.
Dorgan posted pro-Nazi content on X with repeated posts implying that being “to the right of Hitler” was a compliment.
Dorgan also rejected the idea that all transgender people are liberals, expressing hatred for Democrats and support for President Trump.
Four days after Trump won the 2024 election, Dorgan wrote on X: “trans my whole life… Post operation… Back Trump 100% love America they don’t stand for me. They don’t speak for me. [Expletive] these commie [expletive].”