A transgender mass shooter who murdered his ex-wife and son at a Rhode Island hockey rink has a convicted son currently serving federal prison time for attempting to burn down a predominantly Black church while spewing racist hatred.
Story Snapshot
- Robert Dorgan killed his ex-wife and son at a youth hockey game before turning the gun on himself, while his son Kevin Colantonio serves over six years for torching a Black church
- Colantonio’s seized notebook contained vile racist statements including “hunt them down, gun them down, everyone that isn’t white” and “burn churches to the ground”
- Dorgan posted ominously on social media the day before the massacre that anti-trans criticism drives transgender people “BERSERK”
- Governor McKee’s gun control rhetoric ignores the mental health crisis and ideological factors fueling these tragedies
A Family History of Violence and Hatred
Robert Dorgan, 56, who identified as transgender under names like Roberta Esposito, executed a planned family annihilation on February 16, 2026, at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket during a high school hockey game. Dorgan killed his ex-wife Rhonda and their son Aidan before critically wounding Rhonda’s parents and a family friend. Brave bystanders tackled the shooter, but Dorgan managed to fire a second handgun, taking his own life. Authorities confirmed Dorgan’s son from a previous relationship, Kevin Colantonio, 37, is imprisoned for federal arson charges related to attacking Shiloh Gospel Temple Ministries in February 2024.
Church Arson and Racist Ideology
Colantonio pleaded guilty in February 2025 to setting fire to the exterior of the predominantly Black church in North Providence. Federal prosecutors highlighted his “extremely racist ideology” after seizing a notebook filled with horrifying statements advocating violence against non-white individuals and calling for churches to be burned. The connection between father and son extends beyond blood—both posted racist content on social media, suggesting a shared toxic worldview. Police confirmed the two shared a North Providence address over twenty years ago, though the extent of their recent contact remains unclear.
Divorce Strain and Escalating Mental Crisis
Dorgan’s gender transition around 2017 destroyed his thirty-year marriage to Rhonda, who filed for divorce in February 2020. Court documents initially cited Dorgan’s gender reassignment surgery and narcissistic personality disorder traits before being amended to irreconcilable differences. Dorgan’s social media activity revealed deep resentment, posting in 2018 that Rhonda “hates the person who stole her husband.” His daughter confirmed her father suffered from serious mental health issues and was “very sick.” Coworkers reported Dorgan owned guns and discussed his family situation, displaying mixed emotions about transgender acceptance while regularly attending hockey games to watch his children play.
Warning Signs Ignored Before the Massacre
Just one day before the shooting, Dorgan responded aggressively on social media to posts by Kevin Sorbo and Alex Jones critical of transgender ideology, claiming such criticism drives transgender people “BERSERK.” This chilling statement proved prophetic. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves noted Dorgan had attended games peacefully numerous times with no prior indication of violence, making the attack even more shocking to the tight-knit hockey community. The massacre traumatized families who watched children being carried out on stretchers, with parent Amy Goulet describing the scene as “mind-boggling.”
Political Response Misses the Real Issues
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee immediately pivoted to gun control talking points, lamenting gun violence without addressing the mental health crisis or ideological factors at play. Reverend Jordan Wells publicly criticized McKee for ignoring mental illness and societal breakdown as root causes. This tragedy follows a disturbing pattern of violence involving transgender-identified individuals, including Jesse Van Rootselaar’s school shooting in Canada on February 10, 2026, that killed six, and Robin Westman’s August 2025 church massacre that killed two children, with a manifesto citing transgender regret. The refusal of political leaders to honestly examine these connections does a disservice to public safety and prevents addressing the mental health support gaps that could prevent future tragedies.
Sources:
Police credit a good samaritan for ending a deadly shooting at a Rhode Island ice rink
Back to back shootings prompt reflection on history of trans mass killers
