Brown University Shooting: Person of Interest Released After Evidence Shifts

In a swift turn of events, a 24‑year‑old man detained as a person of interest in the Brown University shooting has been released as authorities say evidence points elsewhere.

Release Announcement

Shortly after the arrest, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley announced that the individual would be released. “Shortly, we will be releasing the person of interest who had been detained earlier today,” Smiley told reporters.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha added that new evidence had shifted the focus. “There is no basis to consider him a person of interest so he’s being released,” Neronha said on Sunday.

The 24‑year‑old was taken into custody Sunday morning and, by Sunday night, authorities confirmed that there was no longer a basis to hold him in connection with the shooting that killed two students and wounded nine others at the Ivy League school.

Statements from Officials

Mayor Brett Smiley

“In the years that I have in this police department, we stand on grounded facts, not a speculation,” Smiley said, adding that officials hope to update the public once they have “the appropriate and accurate information.”

“My goal is that we’re able to have that information as soon as possible,” he told reporters. “But again, I tell you that respectfully, I have the responsibility to respect the integrity of this investigation.”

Attorney General Peter Neronha

Neronha said the name of the individual had been leaked to the public and that it was difficult to reverse that. “I think what’s really unfortunate is this person’s name was leaked to the public. It’s hard to put that back,” he added.

Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez

Perez, the chief of police in Providence, confirmed that the person of interest was a man in his 20s, not in his 30s as police had previously reported. He said the investigation continues to progress extremely fast.

“We’re going to work with the attorney general’s office to make sure that we have the right legal requirements for the charges,” Perez said. “And this is, it’s just complex. There’s a lot of evidence, there’s a lot of witnesses, and so we have to make sure that we have it all tight. And to make sure we have a good case.”

He added that police cannot hold the person of interest beyond Monday if charges are not filed and that he hopes an arraignment will take place “sooner rather than later.”

FBI Director Kash Patel

In a post on X earlier Sunday, Patel said the person of interest was taken into custody early Sunday morning at a hotel room in Coventry, Rhode Island, by the FBI Boston’s Safe Streets Task Force, with assistance from U.S. Marshals and Coventry police, based off a lead by Providence police.

He also noted that the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team was activated to provide critical geolocation capabilities.

Background on Detention

Law enforcement officials told NBC News that the man had a unique characteristic on his firearm, which was found when he was taken into custody. Charges could be filed against him within the next few hours, according to Perez.

The location of the arrest was a Hampton Inn on Centre of New England Boulevard in Coventry. WJAR reported seeing caution tape blocking the hallway and agents from the FBI, ATF and Coventry police present.

An eyewitness, Abbey Buttacavoli, posted on X: I was allowed inside briefly to this Hampton Inn hotel in Coventry where law enforcement detained the person of interest in the Brown University shooting. I saw caution tape blocking the hallway on the first floor and officers going into a room. ATF, FBI, and Coventry PD here.

Investigation Status

Police say they were able to find and take a person of interest into custody within 24 hours of the fatal shooting on the campus at Brown University. The investigation remains ongoing, but officials are confident that the man in custody is the suspected gunman.

The authorities have stated that they will not hold the individual beyond Monday if charges are not filed. The police are hoping for an arraignment as soon as possible.

Key Takeaways

• The 24‑year‑old man detained as a person of interest in the Brown University shooting has been released.
• Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha cited new evidence that shifted the focus away from the individual.
• The FBI, ATF, and local police conducted the arrest at a Hampton Inn in Coventry early Sunday morning.

The release underscores the fluid nature of investigations and the importance of evidence in determining who is held accountable. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and will update the public as new information becomes available.