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BI00d on the ice. 💔 At the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, what should have been a routine high school hockey night turned into a nightmare. Authorities say 56-year-old Robert Dorgan opened fire, killing his ex-wife Rhonda Dorgan and their son Aidan before taking his own life — leaving three others critically injured. But this wasn’t random. His daughter, Amanda Wallace-Hubbard, says it was a calculated “vendetta” against their own family. She was in the stands with her young sons when the shots rang out — and says a split-second act of heroism saved their lives. A long trail of family conflict, court battles, and bitter disputes now raises chilling questions about what led to this explosion of violence.

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Rhode Island ice rink shooting victims confirmed as shooter’s daughter alleges ‘vendetta’ against family

Robert Dorgan’s daughter says family was specifically targeted in Pawtucket arena shooting that left ex-wife and son dead

Fox News correspondent Alexis McAdams and Fox News contributor Paul Mauro discuss the attack at an ice rink where 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, who also went by Roberta, killed his ex-wife and son before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The trans suspect who opened fire at a Rhode Island ice hockey rink on Monday killed his ex-wife and adult son, authorities said, while his daughter alleged he had a “vendetta” against the family.

Robert Dorgan, 56, fatally shot his ex-wife, Rhonda Dorgan, at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket as well as his son Aidan Dorgan, who later died at the hospital, North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi said, according to WCVB.

Three other victims were injured in the shooting, including Linda and Gerald Dorgan, who were the parents of Rhonda Dorgan. Both Linda and Gerald are currently hospitalized in critical condition, according to the outlet.

Split image of police vehicles outside Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Rhode Island and Robert Dorgan, identified as the shooting suspect.

Police respond outside the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, after the Feb. 16, 2026, shooting. At right is Robert Dorgan, identified by police as the suspect, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images; X/@VerdadEsPoder)

The third victim was identified as Thomas Geruso, a friend of the Dorgan family, who is also in critical condition.

The shooter, who identified as transgender, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

“I just want to make sure people understand this was one person’s vendetta against their family,” Amanda Wallace-Hubbard, Dorgan’s daughter, told WPRI-TV. “We were targeted. This was very specific. It wasn’t random.”

Wallace-Hubbard, Robert Dorgan’s daughter from another relationship, said she was with her two young sons and the rest of the family in the stands when the shooting occurred. She described Rhonda as her stepmother and Aidan as her half-brother.

She credited an unidentified good Samaritan with saving her life and those of her sons. The individual is seen tackling Robert Dorgan in footage from the shooting, per WPRI-TV.

“Until that good Samaritan incapacitated him, I really feared that my sons were next,” Wallace-Hubbard said.

Aidan Dorgan in graduation cap and gown posing with his mother, Rhonda Dorgan, in a family photo.

Aidan Dorgan and his mother, Rhonda Dorgan, are seen in a graduation photo. Both were killed in the shooting at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, authorities said. (Rhonda Dorgan via Facebook)

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“I can’t thank him enough,” she added. “I’m certain my sons and I are alive because of him.”

Colin Dorgan, the 17-year-old son of Robert and Rhonda Dorgan and a North Providence High School senior, was on the ice playing in the game when the shooting occurred, per WPRI-TV.

Video from inside the arena shows players diving and fans fleeing their seats as shots rang out during the high school game. At least a dozen shots can be heard in the footage, along with people screaming as they scramble for cover.

Police have not publicly identified a motive. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves described the shooting as a “family dispute.”

An attorney for the Dorgan family said they are “deeply and profoundly affected” by the tragedy and are cooperating with authorities.

“We are reminded that behind every headline is a family experiencing profound pain and loss,” the statement said, per WCVB, adding that the family is focused on those injured and asking that further questions be directed to their attorney.

WATCH: PLAYERS AND FANS SCRAMBLE FOR COVER AFTER SHOOTING:

Video shows players, fans scramble for cover during Rhode Island rink shootingVideo

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Investigators are continuing to review surveillance footage and witness accounts as they piece together a timeline of the shooting.

Court records show Robert Dorgan had a documented history of conflict with relatives in recent years, including disputes tied to his gender transition, WPRI reported.

In 2020, Robert Dorgan reported to North Providence police that he had undergone gender-reassignment surgery and said his father-in-law wanted him out of the family home because of it.

WATCH: PAWTUCKET POLICE RELEASE NEW DETAILS ABOUT RHODE ISLAND HOCKEY SHOOTING

Pawtucket police release new details about Rhode Island hockey shootingVideo

According to court documents cited by WPRI, Robert Dorgan alleged his father-in-law used a derogatory term for transgender individuals and threatened retaliation if he did not move out. The father-in-law was charged at the time, though prosecutors later dismissed the case.

Court filings also show Robert Dorgan’s then-wife initially cited “gender reassignment surgery, narcissistic + personality disorder traits” in divorce paperwork before the grounds were amended to “irreconcilable differences.”

The divorce was finalized in 2021. Paperwork from the divorce showed Robert Dorgan lived at the time in Jacksonville, Florida, and was working as a truck driver.

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Also in 2020, Robert Dorgan accused his mother of assaulting him and acting in a “violent, threatening or tumultuous manner,” according to police records cited by WPRI. His mother was charged with simple assault and battery and disorderly conduct, though the case was later dismissed, court records show.

 

Split image of police at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Rhode Island and Robert Dorgan inside an ice rink.

Police stand outside the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, after a shooting on Feb. 16, 2026, left two people dead and three others injured in what authorities described as a family dispute. At right is Robert Dorgan, identified by police as the suspect, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images; X/@VerdadEsPoder)

The dispute was also referenced in Robert Dorgan’s conflict with his father-in-law. According to court documents, Dorgan told police his father-in-law “told me that if I did not drop the assault charges against my mother that further retaliation could be expected and that was another reason to have me killed.”

The day before the shooting, Robert Dorgan posted on X about going “BERSERK” after an actor insisted that Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., is a man.

Fox News’ Louis Casiano, Alexis McAdams and Bonny Chu contributed to this report.

They tracked 1.2 million babies for a decade — and the “meat myth” didn’t survive the data. A massive national study led by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Israel’s Health Ministry followed infants from vegetarian, vegan, and omnivorous households — and found their growth by age 2 was nearly identical. Weight. Height. Head circumference. Across the board, babies raised in plant-based homes developed along the same trajectories as their meat-eating peers. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed health data from 2014 to 2023 — covering about 70% of children nationwide. In Israel, nearly 95% of babies attend government wellness clinics, creating one of the largest infant nutrition datasets ever examined. Yes, vegan infants showed slightly higher odds of being underweight in the first 60 days. But by 24 months? The difference disappeared. Stunting rates were low across all groups. No significant developmental gaps. Researchers say the key isn’t meat — it’s planning. Well-balanced plant-based diets, proper prenatal care, and nutritional guidance matter more than whether chicken or tofu is on the menu. And then there’s iron — the nutrient critics always point to. According to the researchers, plant foods like legumes often contain more iron than meat. While absorption differs, families who plan carefully appear to balance it out. The bigger warning? Ultra-processed food. Vegan junk food exists too — and that’s where real risk may lie. So if nearly 1.2 million data points show no developmental disadvantage… Why does the myth still persist? Full story in the comments.
They tracked 1.2 million babies for a decade — and the “meat myth” didn’t survive the data. A massive national study led by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Israel’s Health Ministry followed infants from vegetarian, vegan, and omnivorous households — and found their growth by age 2 was nearly identical. Weight. Height. Head circumference. Across the board, babies raised in plant-based homes developed along the same trajectories as their meat-eating peers. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed health data from 2014 to 2023 — covering about 70% of children nationwide. In Israel, nearly 95% of babies attend government wellness clinics, creating one of the largest infant nutrition datasets ever examined. Yes, vegan infants showed slightly higher odds of being underweight in the first 60 days. But by 24 months? The difference disappeared. Stunting rates were low across all groups. No significant developmental gaps. Researchers say the key isn’t meat — it’s planning. Well-balanced plant-based diets, proper prenatal care, and nutritional guidance matter more than whether chicken or tofu is on the menu. And then there’s iron — the nutrient critics always point to. According to the researchers, plant foods like legumes often contain more iron than meat. While absorption differs, families who plan carefully appear to balance it out. The bigger warning? Ultra-processed food. Vegan junk food exists too — and that’s where real risk may lie. So if nearly 1.2 million data points show no developmental disadvantage… Why does the myth still persist? Full story in the comments.

Vegetarian and vegan babies develop at same rate as meat-eating peers – Israeli study Big-data study by Ben-Gurion…

A simple brain game cut dementia risk by 26% — even 20 years later. Not a miracle drug. Not a new surgery. Just targeted “speed” exercises that retrain how fast your brain processes information. A study published in the Alzheimer’s Association research journal found that participants who practiced specific brain speed exercises — and followed up with booster sessions — were significantly less likely to develop dementia two decades later. Here’s what makes it different: it’s not about memorizing word lists. It’s about forcing the brain to move faster. Training eye coordination. Expanding field of vision. Processing visual and auditory signals more quickly. According to Dr. Perminder Bhatia, when dementia begins, brain connections slow down. Signals weaken. Neurotransmitters decline. But when you repeatedly challenge processing speed, those connections strengthen and fire more efficiently. One example? Programs like BrainHQ’s “Hawk Eye,” designed to sharpen visual speed and reaction time. The idea is adaptation — pushing the brain slightly beyond its comfort zone so it rewires itself. Doctors recommend starting after 50. But the research suggests anyone can benefit. And in a world where dementia risk rises sharply with age, that 26% reduction isn’t small. It raises a bigger question: if something this simple can reshape brain aging, why aren’t more people doing it? Full story in the comments.
A simple brain game cut dementia risk by 26% — even 20 years later. Not a miracle drug. Not a new surgery. Just targeted “speed” exercises that retrain how fast your brain processes information. A study published in the Alzheimer’s Association research journal found that participants who practiced specific brain speed exercises — and followed up with booster sessions — were significantly less likely to develop dementia two decades later. Here’s what makes it different: it’s not about memorizing word lists. It’s about forcing the brain to move faster. Training eye coordination. Expanding field of vision. Processing visual and auditory signals more quickly. According to Dr. Perminder Bhatia, when dementia begins, brain connections slow down. Signals weaken. Neurotransmitters decline. But when you repeatedly challenge processing speed, those connections strengthen and fire more efficiently. One example? Programs like BrainHQ’s “Hawk Eye,” designed to sharpen visual speed and reaction time. The idea is adaptation — pushing the brain slightly beyond its comfort zone so it rewires itself. Doctors recommend starting after 50. But the research suggests anyone can benefit. And in a world where dementia risk rises sharply with age, that 26% reduction isn’t small. It raises a bigger question: if something this simple can reshape brain aging, why aren’t more people doing it? Full story in the comments.

How brain exercises can help lower the risk of dementia An error has occurred. Please contact support for…

DNA from the glove. DNA from inside the house. No hit in the FBI database. Now the community is on edge. Neighbors are installing cameras. A small vigil grows outside her home. One man who knew her from church said, “We’ve never gone through this before.” Meanwhile, investigators have reportedly reviewed firearm purchases tied to nearly two dozen individuals. Tips are flooding in. The FBI previously raised its own reward to $100,000 — before this anonymous boost doubled it. And then there’s the theory that’s raising eyebrows: a veteran private investigator now believes a cartel may be involved — but not that she was taken across the border. He points to the suspect’s behavior on camera, the backpack, even the holster. He believes she may still be somewhere north of Tucson. Authorities have not confirmed that theory. What we know: A missing grandmother. A masked figure on camera. No DNA match. $200,000 on the table.
DNA from the glove. DNA from inside the house. No hit in the FBI database. Now the community is on edge. Neighbors are installing cameras. A small vigil grows outside her home. One man who knew her from church said, “We’ve never gone through this before.” Meanwhile, investigators have reportedly reviewed firearm purchases tied to nearly two dozen individuals. Tips are flooding in. The FBI previously raised its own reward to $100,000 — before this anonymous boost doubled it. And then there’s the theory that’s raising eyebrows: a veteran private investigator now believes a cartel may be involved — but not that she was taken across the border. He points to the suspect’s behavior on camera, the backpack, even the holster. He believes she may still be somewhere north of Tucson. Authorities have not confirmed that theory. What we know: A missing grandmother. A masked figure on camera. No DNA match. $200,000 on the table.

Anonymous donation raises reward for help finding Nancy Guthrie to over $200,000 An anonymous donation to the Pima…

Scientists just discovered they can detect the Epstein-Barr virus using ordinary human genome sequencing data — the same data originally collected to study our own genes. And what they found could change how we understand cancer, autoimmune disease, and immune failure. Nearly 90–95% of adults worldwide carry EBV. It infects most people in childhood, then buries itself inside B cells for life. Quiet. Dormant. Untouchable. Until it isn’t. EBV has long been linked to cancers like Hodgkin’s lymphoma and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. But one major mystery remained: how much virus is actually circulating in the blood — and why does it spike in some people?
Scientists just discovered they can detect the Epstein-Barr virus using ordinary human genome sequencing data — the same data originally collected to study our own genes. And what they found could change how we understand cancer, autoimmune disease, and immune failure. Nearly 90–95% of adults worldwide carry EBV. It infects most people in childhood, then buries itself inside B cells for life. Quiet. Dormant. Untouchable. Until it isn’t. EBV has long been linked to cancers like Hodgkin’s lymphoma and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. But one major mystery remained: how much virus is actually circulating in the blood — and why does it spike in some people?

New method estimates Epstein-Barr virus in blood using standard genome sequencing data This electron microscopic image of two…

“You have no proof she’s not alive,” Nanos said. And he insists this is still a rescue mission — not a recovery. Then he spoke directly to whoever knows where she is. “Take her to a park. Take her to a hospital. Just let her go. It will work out better for you in the long run.” Seventeen days. No confirmed suspect. A glove with unknown male DNA. A pacemaker that went silent. And a family waiting.
“You have no proof she’s not alive,” Nanos said. And he insists this is still a rescue mission — not a recovery. Then he spoke directly to whoever knows where she is. “Take her to a park. Take her to a hospital. Just let her go. It will work out better for you in the long run.” Seventeen days. No confirmed suspect. A glove with unknown male DNA. A pacemaker that went silent. And a family waiting.

‘Just let her go’: Sheriff issues plea to suspect in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos…

It starts so ordinary. An invite that says “siblings welcome.” Organic snacks. No nuts, no gluten. Kids laughing, balloons popping, sunlight pouring through the windows. One child has a mild cold. No one thinks twice. But measles doesn’t need drama to spread. It lingers in the air for hours. It infects up to 90% of the unvaccinated. And it moves silently at first. A week later, her daughter has a fever. Then a cough. Then a rash. She Googles. Posts in a mom group. Hopes it’s chicken pox. Hopes it’s the flu. By the time the pediatrician meets them in the parking lot wearing an N95 mask, it’s too late to pretend. Oxygen levels are low. Crackling in the lungs. An emergency room. Isolation. Pneumonia.
It starts so ordinary. An invite that says “siblings welcome.” Organic snacks. No nuts, no gluten. Kids laughing, balloons popping, sunlight pouring through the windows. One child has a mild cold. No one thinks twice. But measles doesn’t need drama to spread. It lingers in the air for hours. It infects up to 90% of the unvaccinated. And it moves silently at first. A week later, her daughter has a fever. Then a cough. Then a rash. She Googles. Posts in a mom group. Hopes it’s chicken pox. Hopes it’s the flu. By the time the pediatrician meets them in the parking lot wearing an N95 mask, it’s too late to pretend. Oxygen levels are low. Crackling in the lungs. An emergency room. Isolation. Pneumonia.

Illustration by The Atlantic The birthday-party invitation said “siblings welcome,” which means you can bring your 11-month-old son while…