The son of Rhode Island killer Robert Dorgan is currently serving a federal prison sentence after being convicted of setting fires at a predominantly black church in 2024 — roughly a year before his father’s deadly shooting rampage at a Pawtucket ice rink, as reported by The New York Post.
The church serves a mostly black congregation of about 100 members and was empty at the time the fires were set.
Son of Transgender Rhode Island shooter revealed to be an arsonist who attempted to burn down black church.
The son of trans shooter Robert Dorgan was jailed for starting fires at a predominantly black church.
Kevin Colantonio is serving a nearly 7 year sentence for sparking… pic.twitter.com/Xsvr06C1ou
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) February 19, 2026
Following the blaze, Colantonio sent a text message to his family labeling the church as a place of worship for “Atheist God mockers,” according to the report
Authorities later discovered notebooks inside Colantonio’s home containing racist rhetoric. One entry read: “Gun everyone down that isn’t white, if one is white, spread the gospel. Always give our bloodline a chance,” WPRI reported.
Colantonio was sentenced in June to 78 months in federal prison and is currently incarcerated at the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, he is scheduled for release in December 2029.
Colantonio is one of six children Dorgan had with three different women. He is also the half-brother of Aidan Dorgan, who was shot and killed during his father’s rampage.
Robert Dorgan opened fire during a high school hockey game at a Pawtucket ice rink Monday afternoon, killing his ex-wife and his 23-year-old son and critically wounding three others, according to police.
Authorities have not disclosed a motive but said Dorgan appeared to harbor a deadly grudge against his family.
Dorgan, who went by Roberta after undergoing gender reassignment surgery in 2020, had neo-Nazi tattoos on his bicep and a documented history of posting antisemitic and racist statements on social media.
The day before the shooting at the rink, Dorgan responded to a video praising Adolf Hitler with an anti-Asian slur, writing, “Really nice but a c—k made that song.” In other posts, he made repeated references to “white power” and “white pride world wide.”
Locals familiar with the family told WPRI that Dorgan influenced Colantonio’s obsession with race. Those individuals said the father’s extremist views were well known within certain circles prior to the violence.
The February 2024 arson attack in North Providence occurred at Shiloh Gospel Temple Ministries, a church that primarily serves black parishioners.
Law enforcement officials said Colantonio used gasoline and a lighter to set five separate fires outside the building. No one was inside at the time, and there were no reported injuries.
‼️A WHITE SUPREMACIST TRIED TO BURN DOWN A BLACK CHURCH
📍Providence | Rhode Island
Kevin Colantonio specifically targeted the church because they were BLACK.
A search of this racists home uncovered notebooks with threatening writings included phrases like:
“Gun Everyone… pic.twitter.com/ZEeUnnk4II
— i Expose Racists & Pedos (@SeeRacists) December 30, 2024
The investigation into Dorgan’s shooting spree remains ongoing as authorities continue to review evidence and statements from witnesses at the Pawtucket ice rink.