New records show Trans ice rink shooter Robert Dorgan and ex wife Rhonda Dorgan were cousins before Pawtucket hockey game tragedy

Robert Dorgan walked into a high school hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on Monday and opened fire. In just moments, a family gathering turned into a nightmare. Police said Robert Dorgan shot and killed his ex-wife, Rhonda Dorgan, and their son, Aidan Dorgan. Rhonda’s parents, Gerald Dorgan and Linda Dorgan, were also shot and were left in critical condition. Authorities confirmed that Robert Dorgan later turned the gun on himself.As officers began to piece together what happened, another shocking detail came out. According to reporting by the Providence Journal, Robert Dorgan and Rhonda Dorgan were related by blood. Records show they were first cousins once removed when they got married in 1992. That detail raised new questions about the family history behind the tragedy. Investigators said the shooting appeared to be targeted. The victims were sitting together at the ice rink when Robert Dorgan approached them. Witnesses described panic inside the arena as people ran for safety.

Robert Dorgan and Rhonda Dorgan were first cousins once removed, family records show

At first, many people wondered why Robert Dorgan had the same last name as his ex-wife’s parents. The Providence Journal looked into public records and old census data to understand the connection. The outlet reviewed the 1950 Census and traced the Dorgan family tree in Rhode Island.The records show that Edward Dorgan and his wife, Eva Dorgan, lived in Smithfield, Rhode Island, in 1950. They had two sons: Raymond Dorgan and Robert J. Dorgan. Robert J. Dorgan later became the father of Robert Dorgan, the shooter in this case.Raymond Dorgan, meanwhile, became the father of Gerald Dorgan. Gerald Dorgan and his wife, Linda Dorgan, later had a daughter, Rhonda Dorgan. That means Robert Dorgan and Rhonda Dorgan shared great-grandparents. In family terms, they were first cousins once removed.Gerald Dorgan remains in critical condition along with his wife, Linda Dorgan, as doctors continue treatment. Police have not shared more details about motive. However, court records show Robert Dorgan and Rhonda Dorgan divorced in 2021.The investigation remains ongoing as authorities review evidence and speak with witnesses. The Pawtucket community is now left grieving after violence struck during what should have been a simple night at a school hockey game.