A shooting on the Brown University campus on Saturday during final exams left two students dead and nine others injured, marking a tragic day for the Ivy League institution.
The Incident
In the afternoon, a shooter dressed in black entered the engineering building and opened fire. Security footage captured the suspect walking away from the building, but his face was not visible. Witnesses reported that he may have been wearing a camouflage mask and could be in his 30s.
Victims and Injuries
University officials confirmed that ten of the people shot were students. An eleventh person was injured by fragments from the shooting, though it was not immediately clear whether that victim was a student. The attack resulted in at least two deaths and wounded nine others.
Police Response
Officers scattered across the campus and into an affluent neighborhood filled with historic brick homes. They searched academic buildings, backyards, and porches late into the night after the shooting erupted in the afternoon. The search extended into the surrounding area to locate the suspect.
Investigation Status
The deputy chief of Providence police, Timothy O’Hara, said that the suspect was last seen leaving the engineering building. He added that security footage showed the suspect walking away from the building, but his face was not visible. O’Hara also noted that the suspect could have been wearing a camouflage mask.
Person of Interest Release
Authorities announced Sunday morning that they had a person of interest in custody. Around 11 p.m. that same evening, the police released the individual, stating that the person was no longer considered a person of interest because evidence was pointing in a different direction.
Statements from Officials
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said late Sunday night that the person of interest is being released from police custody. They confirmed that the individual is no longer considered a person of interest as the evidence is pointing elsewhere.
University President Christina Paxson said she was told that 10 people who were shot were students. She added that another person was injured by fragments from the shooting, but it was not clear if that victim was a student.
Current Status
The suspect remains at large. Police continue to investigate the shooting, focusing on evidence that has emerged during the inquiry. The incident has prompted an increased security presence on campus and in surrounding neighborhoods.
Key Takeaways
- Two students were killed and nine others wounded in a shooting at Brown University during final exams.
- Ten of the injured were confirmed as students; an eleventh was injured by fragments, with student status unclear.
- A person of interest was released from custody Sunday night as evidence points in a different direction.
The shooting has shocked the Brown community and the wider Providence area, as authorities work to uncover the motive and locate the suspect. The university and local law‑enforcement agencies remain on high alert as the investigation continues.
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