Maine State Police Uncover Massive Weapons Cache Linked to Robert Dorgan After Deadly Pawtucket Rhode Island Hockey Shooting

What should have been a routine high school hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, turned into a nightmare that families will never forget.

Inside the crowded Dennis M. Lynch Arena, gunfire shattered the evening as a 56-year-old man opened fire in front of students, parents, and staff.

The shooter, Robert Dorgan, who also went by Roberta Espisito, fatally shot his ex-wife Rhonda and their son Aiden before turning the gun on himself.

Three others — his former in-laws and a school administrator — were critically wounded and rushed to the hospital.

Police later described the violence as stemming from what appeared to be a family dispute.

But as investigators dug deeper, they uncovered far more than a single outburst of rage.

A Disturbing Arsenal Discovered

In the days following the shooting, law enforcement agencies launched a sweeping investigation that crossed state lines.

Maine State Police, the FBI, and local Rhode Island authorities searched Dorgan’s apartment, a storage unit in Brunswick, Maine, and his workplace locker.

What they found was chilling.

Officials seized an AR-15-style rifle, a sawed-off shotgun, ammunition, firearm accessories, and multiple other items from the storage unit.

Additional ammunition and accessories were discovered at his apartment.

Authorities also collected electronic devices and identification documents as part of the probe.

At the time of the shooting, Dorgan reportedly carried two handguns — one of which a bystander heroically wrestled away.

But the gunman produced a second weapon and fatally shot himself.

Investigators later confirmed that two handguns recovered at the scene were traced directly to him.

Records show he had legally purchased a 10mm Glock in Florida in 2021 and a Sig Sauer P226 in Rhode Island in 2019.

He was also carrying a valid Florida gun permit.

The weapons and ammunition have since been sent to a Rhode Island crime lab for forensic testing.

The Clue That Led Police to Maine

Surveillance footage from the arena showed a white van with Maine license plates parked near the scene.

The vehicle, registered in Dorgan’s name, led investigators north.

Searches in Brunswick revealed the larger cache of weapons and accessories.

Nothing of note was found in his work locker, but the discoveries elsewhere raised questions about planning and preparation.

Authorities have not publicly detailed whether the long guns recovered were brought to the hockey game or remained stored away.

A Fractured Family History

Court records show Dorgan’s ex-wife had filed for divorce in 2020.

Initial filings cited gender reassignment surgery and alleged personality disorder traits before being amended to “irreconcilable differences.”

The divorce was finalized in 2021.

Dorgan’s adult daughter from a previous relationship, Amanda Wallace-Hubbard, later said her father had long “struggled with demons.”

She emphasized that gender identity was not the root cause of his estrangement from family members, describing it instead as part of deeper, longstanding issues.

She also claimed he harbored a vendetta against relatives.

Tragically, Wallace-Hubbard and her young children were present when the shooting unfolded.

In the aftermath, she launched a fundraiser to support her younger half-siblings, who lost both parents in the violence.

Extremist Posts and Warning Signs

Dorgan’s social media history painted a troubling picture.

Posts revealed extremist views, including praise for Adolf Hitler, racist rhetoric, and white supremacist sympathies.

He reportedly described himself as politically “to the right of Hitler” and displayed a Nazi-inspired tattoo.

Just one day before the shooting, he allegedly posted an anti-Asian slur while responding to a video glorifying Hitler. That same day, he wrote that he might go “BESERK.”

While investigators have not officially declared a hate crime motive, the extremist content has added another disturbing layer to an already complex case.

The Impact on the Community

The shooting has left Pawtucket shaken.

Students and families who attended the hockey game witnessed violence few could have imagined in such a setting.

Counseling services were quickly made available to those affected.

School administrators described the trauma as profound, particularly given that the incident occurred in a place typically associated with community spirit and teenage competition.

Gun violence at school-related events, though statistically rare compared to other public shootings, often carries outsized emotional impact because of the presence of children and families.

What’s Next?

Investigators are continuing to examine Dorgan’s digital devices and firearms history to determine whether the attack was fully premeditated and whether any warning signs were missed.

Authorities will likely release further details once forensic testing of the weapons is complete.

Law enforcement may also analyze whether existing protective or restraining orders were ever sought and if additional intervention could have occurred.

For the surviving victims, recovery will be long and uncertain.

For the children who lost both parents, the legal and emotional aftermath is only beginning.

Community leaders are expected to revisit discussions about school security, firearm access, and mental health intervention in the coming weeks.

Summary

A high school hockey game in Pawtucket ended in tragedy when Robert Dorgan fatally shot his ex-wife and son before killing himself.

Three others were critically injured.

Investigators later uncovered a significant cache of firearms and ammunition in Maine and Rhode Island properties connected to him.

Weapons recovered included handguns traced to prior purchases, as well as an AR-15-style rifle and a sawed-off shotgun.

Court records, family testimony, and extremist social media posts have added layers to the investigation, which authorities describe as rooted in a family dispute.

As the community mourns, law enforcement continues piecing together how a domestic conflict escalated into a deadly public shooting witnessed by students and families.