A shooting incident took place at Brown University’s engineering building in Providence, R.I., resulting in two fatalities and eight individuals in critical condition. Law enforcement officials are actively searching for the suspect, described as a male dressed in black, who was last seen leaving the Barus & Holley building. Mayor Brett Smiley has implemented a shelter-in-place directive for the area, advising residents near the campus to remain indoors until further notice.
Initial reports suggested a suspect was in custody, but university officials later clarified that this was not the case, and the search for the suspect or suspects is ongoing. The community has been urged to stay vigilant and secure their surroundings. The Barus & Holley building, which houses the university’s school of engineering and physics department, was on lockdown during final exams.
Students nearby took safety precautions, hiding under desks and turning off lights upon receiving the shooting alert. U.S. President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation, expressing condolences to the victims and their families. The FBI is providing assistance as authorities continue to investigate the incident.
Brown University, a private institution with over 7,300 undergraduate students and 3,000 graduate students, is cooperating with law enforcement agencies to address the situation as details unfold. The community remains on edge as officials work to gather more information and provide updates.