A transgender killer who executed his ex-wife and son at a Rhode Island hockey game has a son serving federal prison time for torching a predominantly Black church with a notebook full of violent racist threats. Family Violence Rooted in Decades of Dysfunction Robert Dorgan opened fire at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, during a high school hockey game on February 16, 2026, killing his ex-wife Rhonda Dorgan and their son Aidan Dorgan. He critically wounded Rhonda’s parents, Linda and Gerald Dorgan, along with family friend Thomas Geruso before bystanders subdued him. Dorgan then fatally shot himself with a second handgun. Police confirmed on February 18, 2026, that Dorgan’s son from a previous relationship, Kevin Colantonio, is serving federal prison time for arson targeting a predominantly Black church. Federal Arson Conviction Reveals Racist Ideology Kevin Colantonio, 37, pleaded guilty in February 2025 to setting fire to the exterior of Shiloh Gospel Temple Ministries in North Providence in February 2024. Federal prosecutors described his “extremely racist ideology” based on a notebook seized during his arrest. The notebook contained violent racist statements including “hunt them down, gun them down, everyone that isn’t white” and “burn churches to the ground.” Colantonio received a sentence exceeding six years in federal prison. Police records show Dorgan and Colantonio shared a North Providence address over 20 years ago, though the extent of their recent contact remains unclear. Transgender Identity Destroyed Three-Decade Marriage Dorgan began posting about sex change surgery in 2017 and used names including Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgano. By 2018, Dorgan posted on social media about marital troubles, claiming Rhonda “hates the person who stole her husband.” In 2019, Dorgan posted “Transwoman, 6 kids : wife – not thrilled” while encouraging transgender family-building. Rhonda filed for divorce in February 2020 after approximately 30 years of marriage, initially citing Dorgan’s gender reassignment surgery and narcissistic personality disorder traits before changing the filing to irreconcilable differences. Court records reveal the divorce shattered what had been a long-standing family structure. Social Media Rants Preceded Mass Shooting On February 15, 2026, just one day before the shooting, Dorgan responded on social media to anti-trans posts by Kevin Sorbo and Alex Jones, claiming that criticism drives transgender people “BERSERK.” Dorgan had posted racist memes on the platform and maintained an active presence discussing both transgender pride and family resentment. Coworkers told investigators that Dorgan frequently discussed family matters and hockey, expressing mixed feelings about transgender acceptance while owning firearms. Dorgan’s daughter later confirmed her father had “mental health issues” and was “very sick.” Despite this disturbing social media activity and acknowledged mental illness, Dorgan showed no prior indication of violence at the arena, where he had routinely attended games. Mental Health Crisis Ignored in Political Response Governor McKee responded to the shooting by lamenting gun violence, drawing sharp criticism from Reverend Jordan Wells and others for ignoring the mental illness and transgender factors central to the case. Dorgan’s daughter publicly confirmed her father’s mental health problems contributed to his deadly rampage. This tragedy follows a concerning pattern of violence involving transgender-identified individuals, including Jesse Van Rootselaar’s February 10, 2026, school shooting in Canada that killed six, and Robin Westman’s August 2025 church attack killing two children. Critics argue that focusing solely on firearms while dismissing the mental health crisis and the specific ideological factors at play does a disservice to public safety and prevents honest conversations about intervention and prevention. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves praised the bystanders who tackled Dorgan, crediting them with ending the attack and preventing additional casualties in the crowded arena. The Dennis M. Lynch Arena was taped off on February 17 as teams retrieved equipment and a memorial grew outside. The Rhode Island hockey community held vigils, with parents expressing shock that violence invaded what should have been a safe family environment. Amy Goulet, a parent present during the shooting, called the attack “mind-boggling.” This case underscores the need to address mental illness seriously rather than politicizing tragedies to advance gun control agendas while ignoring the root causes that lead disturbed individuals to commit horrific acts of violence against their own families. Sources: Pawtucket killer son in prison shiloh gospel temple ministries fire social media weapons hockey rink arena high school game 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