Three people remain in critical condition at a hospital in Rhode Island following this week’s deadly shooting at an ice-skating arena in Pawtucket.
The shooter’s ex-wife, Rhonda Dorgan, and adult son, Aidan Dorgan, were both killed.
Flowers and hockey sticks have been left outside Lynch Arena in tribute to the victims. Keith Cabral, who played hockey here when he was a kid, came by with his daughter.
“When we heard that there was lives lost, it hurts us,” said Cabral. “This place is meaningful, it means a lot to us and our family. So we’re really sad.”
Multiple vigils have been held in the days after the deadly shooting at a hockey rink in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, left three dead, including the suspect, and three others critically injured, as the community grieves and tries to process this latest act of violence to rock the state.
Pawtucket police say Robert Dorgan, who they say also went by the name of Roberta Esposito, came to rink armed with two handguns and opened fire.
Corina Haddock stopped by with flowers. She went to high school with Aidan.
“You’d never think one of us is going to be gone this soon, but yeah, it’s just so tough to see the family go through this. They’re great family,” Haddock said, fighting back tears.
A mass shooting at a hockey game left three people including the shooter dead, three critically injured and a Rhode Island community in grief.
Rhonda’s parents, Linda and Gerald Dorgan, and a family friend, Thomas Geruso, were also hit and remain in the hospital. Geruso is an assistant principal in the school district.
“At this time, our focus remains on supporting Tom, caring for our staff and students, and ensuring that mental health and counseling resources are readily available throughout our school community,” the superintendent’s office wrote in a statement. “We are grateful for the tremendous support shown by the Pawtucket community and ask that Tom and his loved ones continue to be kept in everyone’s thoughts. Out of respect for Tom and his family, we are not sharing additional details, but we ask the community to continue holding him close in their hearts during this incredibly difficult time.”
Reverand Shane Lima runs Ambassadors Church of the Nazarene, located ne near the ice arena. He said he is trying to help provide a space for the community to heal.
“But also, not just healing symbolically, but that there can be action so that these things can be prevented whenever possible,” said Lima.
Haddock says the impact is hurting people in so many different ways.
“It’s definitely an impact on the entire community, and everyone’s feeling it,” said Haddock. “Really, the only good thing coming out of this is the community coming together for them, because they deserve support right now.”
Robert Goulston
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