A devastating shooting event unfolded at the prestigious Brown University, resulting in two fatalities and nine injuries, as per official statements. The attacker, garbed in black, targeted an engineering facility on the Ivy League campus, inciting widespread panic and leading to a lockdown in certain areas of Providence, Rhode Island. Despite an active manhunt, the perpetrator remains at large.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley expressed his grief during a press briefing, acknowledging that this was a day they had fervently hoped would never arrive. The victims, comprising the two deceased and eight critically wounded, were all students. A ninth victim, who sustained minor injuries from bullet shards, had an undetermined status.
The incident was reported at approximately 4:05 p.m., with the shooting occurring in a ground-floor classroom of the Barus & Holley Engineering building. The day of the incident coincided with the university’s final examinations. Providence’s deputy police chief, Tim O’Hara, confirmed that the police response was immediate, but the suspect was not found at the time.
Initial reports suggested that a suspect had been detained, a claim that was later withdrawn. The suspect, described as a male in his 30s dressed in black, used a handgun in the attack. Authorities have not yet found a weapon and it remains uncertain how the suspect gained access to the building.
The university issued an alert to students shortly after the incident, warning them of an active shooter near the engineering school building. A second alert was sent out claiming a suspect had been arrested, but this was quickly retracted. The campus remained under shelter-in-place orders as of Saturday night.
One student, Katie Sun, recounted the horrifying experience to the school’s newspaper, The Brown Daily Herald. She was studying in the Engineering Research Center lobby when she heard gunshots emanating from the direction of the classrooms. The classrooms where the finals were taking place required a swipe card for entry, but the building itself was open to the public.
Of the eight victims initially reported in critical but stable condition, one is now in critical and unstable condition, and another is stable, according to Brown University Health hospital. Rhode Island Governor Dan Mckee expressed his commitment to apprehending the perpetrator, stating that he had spoken with President Trump, who assured him of federal support. As the investigation continues, the community remains in shock and mourning.