Son of Rhode Island Hockey Rink Shooter Sentenced for Racist Church Arson
Kevin Colantonio, one of six children fathered by Robert Dorgan with three different women, is currently serving a sentence of more than six years in a federal prison in Fort Worth, Texas. His conviction stems from a series of arson attacks targeting Shiloh Gospel Temple in North Providence, Rhode Island, during February 2024. According to reports from news outlet WPRI, Colantonio admitted to intentionally selecting the church due to the race and ethnicity of its predominantly Black congregation.
Disturbing Evidence of Hate-Fueled Motives
During their investigation, police uncovered notebooks inside Colantonio's home containing deeply disturbing and hateful messages. One entry explicitly stated, "gun everyone down that isn't white, if one is white spread the gospel. Always give our bloodline a chance." Court records confirm that Colantonio acknowledged his motive was driven by the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, and ethnicity of the church members. Although the building was empty at the time of the fires, the blazes caused significant damage to the place of worship, which served a congregation of approximately one hundred people.
Father's Influence and Twisted Ideology
Locals with close ties to the Dorgan family informed WPRI that Robert Dorgan, who also used the names Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgano, significantly influenced his son's twisted fixation on race. Dorgan, who reportedly underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2020, maintained a social media account where he shared pro-Nazi, antisemitic, and racist content. In posts, Dorgan wrote that being "to the right of Hitler" was considered a compliment and frequently referenced "white power" and "white pride worldwide." The killer also sported multiple Nazi tattoos, further underscoring his extremist beliefs.
Connection to Deadly Hockey Rink Shooting
This arson case is tragically connected to a later, more violent incident. Robert Dorgan is identified as the suspect in a shooting rampage at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on February 16, 2026. During that attack, Dorgan killed his ex-wife Rhonda Dorgan and their son Aidan Dorgan, who was Kevin Colantonio's half-brother. Rhonda's parents and a family friend were wounded and remain in critical condition. Dorgan subsequently took his own life, and the precise motive for the shooting remains under investigation.
However, Amanda Wallace-Hubbard, Dorgan's daughter from another relationship, who was present at the arena, described the shooting as a targeted "vendetta" against the family. She emphasized that this was not a random act of violence but a very specific attack. Pawtucket Chief of Police Goncalves noted in a press conference that there had been no prior indications of potential violence, as Dorgan had attended numerous hockey games to watch family members without incident.
Kevin Colantonio is scheduled for release from the Federal Bureau of Prisons in December 2029. This case highlights a deeply troubling pattern of familial influence in hate crimes and violence, raising serious concerns about ideological extremism within family units and its devastating consequences for communities.
