PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND – Police in Rhode Island announced early Sunday that a person of interest is in custody in connection with the deadly shooting at Brown University that left two people dead and nine others injured. Authorities said a news conference would provide further details later in the morning.
The shooting occurred Saturday afternoon in the Barus & Holley engineering building during final exams. Officers conducted an extensive search of the campus and surrounding neighborhoods, reviewing surveillance footage to identify the suspect. Video shows a person dressed in black walking away from the scene, though investigators have not confirmed whether the individual is a student. Some witnesses reported the suspect, possibly in his 30s, was wearing a camouflage mask.
University officials said ten of those shot were students, while another person sustained injuries from fragments. The incident prompted campus-wide lockdowns, with students sheltering in place for hours, some evacuated to a fitness center, and others arriving by buses with no personal belongings. Streets around the university were unusually quiet as authorities conducted their search.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed that exam rooms required badge access, but it remains unclear how the shooter gained entry. He urged nearby residents to remain indoors until the all-clear was given. Authorities said the shooter used a handgun, and Democratic Governor Dan McKee pledged all resources to apprehend the suspect. Rhode Island has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation.
Nine individuals with gunshot wounds were taken to Rhode Island Hospital, one in critical condition, six requiring intensive care, and two stable. Students described chaotic scenes, hiding under desks or taking cover in nearby buildings. Emma Ferraro, a chemical engineering student, said she sought shelter after hearing gunfire, while Eva Erickson, a doctoral student and former reality show contestant, left the building shortly before the shots rang out.
Other students, including biochemistry senior Alex Bruce, described watching armed officers respond from their dorms, while nearby lab students turned off lights and hid under desks. Mari Camara, a junior from New York City, spent hours in a local taqueria seeking shelter.
Brown University, founded in 1764, is one of the oldest and most prestigious U.S. colleges, with approximately 7,300 undergraduates and over 3,000 graduate students. Annual tuition, housing, and fees approach $100,000.
