Maine State Police are assisting in the investigation into the Bath Iron Works employee accused of shooting and killing two people and injuring three others at a youth hockey game in Rhode Island on Monday.

Police say Robert Dorgan, 56, killed an ex-wife and an adult son and injured three others at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket. Dorgan died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

Dorgan also went by Roberta Esposito, according to police, and Roberta Dorgan, according to court documents, which indicate the shooter identified as transgender.

Investigators recovered a sawed-off shotgun, an AR-15 style rifle and a handgun frame, as well as ammunition and other firearm accessories, from Dorgan’s storage unit in Brunswick, according to a news release from Pawtucket police.

Police also found more ammunition and firearm equipment in Dorgan’s apartment in Bath, the release said. Maine State Police and the FBI assisted in both searches, according to the Rhode Island department.

MAINE TIES

Rhode Island authorities are working with agencies in multiple states as part of the investigation, Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said during a news conference Tuesday. Dorgan also has ties to Florida and had a license to carry a firearm there, Goncalves said. She said that Dorgan did not appear to be a Rhode Island resident at the time of the shooting.

Shannon Moss, a spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety, confirmed in an email statement Wednesday that state police helped execute search warrants on Tuesday. She would not share more information about how the agency is involved.

Investigators also made inquiries at a Bath business where Dorgan was a regular customer, according to its owner, and appeared to register a vehicle at the business’s address.

After the shooting, police identified a white van with Maine license plates as the shooter’s vehicle.

In a phone call Wednesday, Bob Plourde, owner of Mail It 4 U in Bath, said Dorgan likely used the business address for the vehicle registration simply because Dorgan “had business done here.” He emphasized Dorgan’s only relation to the company was as a customer, and the business was contacted by investigators due to Dorgan’s “affiliation with this address.”

Plourde said Dorgan dropped by the business at least once or twice a week over the past two years. He would not confirm whether Dorgan had a mailbox there, saying that information is confidential.

Dorgan was also an active employee at BIW.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims, their families and all those affected by this tragedy,” David Hench, a spokesperson for BIW, said in a statement Tuesday morning. “Any further questions related to the investigation should be directed to law enforcement.”

Jared Brown, who said he used to work with Dorgan at BIW, described his former co-worker as a quiet and reserved person. He and Dorgan worked on the company’s cable crew, made up of more than 30 people who run cables throughout the ships.

Brown said Dorgan had a close circle of friends at the shipyard. He also recalled that that Dorgan often “spoke highly” of family, including ex-wife Rhonda Dorgan and their children. Dorgan never mentioned having any animosity toward them, Brown said.

Brown also said he’d seen other workers harass Dorgan for being transgender.

In an email response to questions about the alleged harassment, including whether any complaints were made in that regard, Hench said he is “not able to elaborate beyond the statement we released (Tuesday).”

Another colleague, Destiny Mackenzie, recalled that she and Dorgan would often talk about family. Mackenzie said Dorgan’s ex-wife never came up in conversation but a hockey-playing son was a frequent topic.

“What was supposed to be some seniors’ only chance at playoff games is now ruined,” she wrote in a message to The Associated Press. “Images that these kids and family’s now have to live with. That’s who I send my condolences to is those families.”

Mackenzie also said Dorgan had a bad temper that sometimes led to screaming matches with colleagues.

Another co-worker said Dorgan appeared to be split on the issue of transgender acceptance, one second being proud of transitioning and the next embarrassed, the AP reported. That co-worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of workplace reprisals, said they knew Dorgan owned guns but was unsure how many.

A day before the shooting, Dorgan responded on X to anti-transgender posts by actor Kevin Sorbo and Infowars conspiracy theorist Alex Jones by saying that constant criticism of transgender people is “why we Go BERSERK,” the AP reported.

THE SHOOTING

Goncalves, the Pawtucket chief, confirmed during a news conference on Tuesday that the two deceased victims are Dorgan’s ex-wife, Rhonda Dorgan, and their adult son, Aidan Dorgan. Another son, 17, was playing in the game, The Providence Journal reported.

Goncalves said Rhonda Dorgan died at the scene, while Aidan Dorgan was transported to the hospital and died there.

The three others shot were Rhonda Dorgan’s parents, Linda and Gerald Dorgan, and a family friend, Thomas Geruso, all of whom were still in critical condition as of Wednesday.

Robert Dorgan and Rhonda Dorgan were first cousins, once removed, which is why both families share the same last name, The Providence Journal reported.

Lawrence Signore, who is representing family members of those killed in the shooting, declined to comment about Dorgan’s time in Maine but shared a statement from the family, which noted that they were “deeply and profoundly affected” by the shooting.

“We are reminded that behind every headline is a family experiencing profound pain and loss,” the statement read. “We care greatly for all families impacted by this recent tragedy and our thoughts are with them. While there are many questions being asked, please know we are focused on all of those who have been injured and whose lives have been forever changed.”

Police are still investigating what was behind the shooting, but Goncalves said it appeared to have been a “targeted event” and a “family dispute.” Goncalves said there were no signs of a confrontation between Dorgan and the victims immediately before the shooting.

Court documents obtained by the Press Herald indicate Dorgan’s transgender identity was a source of friction. In 2020, Joann Dorgan, the shooter’s mother, was accused of assaulting Dorgan at a youth hockey game in Rhode Island and making derogatory remarks about Dorgan being transgender.

Gerald Dorgan, the shooter’s former father-in-law, allegedly threatened Dorgan weeks later in an apparent attempt to have Dorgan drop the legal action against Joann Dorgan. According to court documents, Gerald Dorgan also allegedly demanded that Dorgan move out of a property he owned, citing Dorgan’s transgender identity.

Multiple people attempted to subdue Dorgan during the shooting, Goncalves said, but Dorgan appeared to reach for another gun and subsequently died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Goncalves said the two guns used during the shooting were purchased legally. Video footage shows Dorgan leaving the arena at one point during the game and returning, Goncalves said, but it is unclear whether Dorgan had gone to retrieve the firearms or if they were armed the whole time.

Dorgan briefly served in the Marine Corps, enlisting on April 26, 1988, according to military records provided by the service. Less than three months later, on July 13, Dorgan was separated from the service with the lowest military rank.

Maj. Jacoby Getty, a Marine Corps spokesperson, told The Associated Press that the rapid discharge indicated Dorgan’s character “was incongruent with Marine Corps’ expectations and standards.”