Police have detained a person of interest in connection with a shooting at Brown University that killed two students and injured nine others, authorities said on Sunday.
The shooting occurred on Saturday afternoon at the Ivy League campus in Providence, Rhode Island, prompting a large-scale police response and a temporary shelter-in-place order for students and nearby residents. That order has since been lifted, although parts of the campus remain restricted as investigators continue their work.
The incident adds to the growing number of mass shootings in the United States. According to the Gun Violence Archive, which tracks gun-related incidents nationwide, it was the country’s 389th mass shooting this year. The organization classifies mass shootings as incidents in which four or more people are killed or injured, excluding the attacker.
What happened:
Authorities said the gunman opened fire shortly after 4:00 p.m. local time inside the Barus and Holley Engineering Building on the eastern side of Brown’s campus. The university confirmed that final examinations were taking place in the building at the time.
The seven-storey engineering complex houses more than 100 laboratories, dozens of classrooms, and several lecture halls. An economics professor told local public media outlet Ocean State Radio that the shooting occurred during a course review session led by a teaching assistant. According to her account, the shooter entered the classroom, shouted something she could not recall, and began firing, prompting students to scramble for cover or attempt to escape.
Investigators said it was not immediately clear how the shooter gained access to the classroom. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said the exterior doors of the building were unlocked, while classrooms being used for exams typically required badge access.
Elsewhere on campus, students responded to emergency alerts warning of an active shooter. Two students studying in the Rockefeller Library told the BBC they avoided windows while awaiting a police escort. Officers later searched the area, instructed students to raise their hands and leave their belongings behind, and escorted them out of the building.
Victims and injuries:
Authorities confirmed that two students were killed in the shooting and nine others were injured. Police later clarified that one of the injured individuals did not suffer a gunshot wound but sustained non-life-threatening injuries caused by fragments from the shooting.
Mayor Smiley said one person remains in critical condition in hospital, while seven others are in stable condition. One individual with less severe injuries has been discharged.
Brown University President Christina Paxson said all of the victims, including those killed and injured, were students. The university has not released their identities. She described the incident as deeply devastating for the university community and said the institution is providing support to the families of the two students who were killed.
Investigation and suspect:
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez confirmed that a person of interest has been taken into custody. He said the individual is in his 20s but declined to release further details while the investigation remains active.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the individual was detained at a hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, early Sunday morning following a lead from Providence police.
A law enforcement source told CBS News, the BBC’s U.S. partner, that the person of interest is not currently enrolled as a student at Brown University. Officials said they are not searching for any additional suspects.
Police released CCTV footage on Saturday showing a male suspect walking away from the scene wearing all black clothing with his face covered. No weapon was visible in the footage, and authorities said a firearm was not recovered during an initial sweep of the building. Some witnesses told police the suspect may have been wearing a camouflage-grey mask.
One individual was briefly arrested on Saturday before being released after investigators determined they were not involved in the shooting.
Campus response:
In a statement on Sunday, Ms Paxson said approximately 2,000 students were relocated to safe locations overnight and expressed gratitude to local residents who opened their homes to displaced students.
Brown University announced that all remaining exams, papers, and projects scheduled for the academic term will not take place as planned.
U.S. President Donald Trump described the shooting as a terrible incident while speaking to reporters as he returned to the White House from attending the annual Army–Navy football game. He said efforts should focus on supporting the victims and those who were injured.
The investigation remains ongoing.
