Police in Rhode Island have detained a person of interest in connection with the shooting at Brown University that resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to nine others on Saturday. Law enforcement officers, numbering in the hundreds, combed through the campus and surrounding neighborhoods while reviewing footage in pursuit of the assailant who carried out the attack in a classroom.
The incident took place on Saturday afternoon in the engineering building of the prestigious Ivy League institution in Providence, coinciding with final exams. Surveillance footage released by authorities depicts the suspect, clad in black attire, calmly departing the scene without revealing his face, leaving uncertainty about whether he is a student. Some witnesses mentioned that the suspect, potentially in his 30s, may have donned a camouflage mask.
The search for the shooter caused a standstill on the campus and in the adjacent community, transforming normally vibrant weekend streets into desolate passageways. Students remained sheltered in place for extended hours, with law enforcement personnel escorting them out of certain campus buildings into a designated safe area. The mayor of Providence, Brett Smiley, expressed sorrow over the tragic event, emphasizing the community’s shared grief.
As investigations unfolded, authorities were initially unsure about how the shooter gained entry to the first-floor classroom. While external doors of the building were unlocked, rooms used for exams required badge access, as highlighted by Mayor Smiley. Governor Dan McKee affirmed the deployment of all available resources to capture the suspect, noting Rhode Island’s stringent gun laws.
Nine individuals with gunshot wounds were transported to Rhode Island Hospital, with one in critical condition and six requiring intensive care, although their conditions were stable. The shooting disrupted ongoing engineering design exams in the Barus & Holley building, a prominent seven-story complex housing the School of Engineering and physics department.
Witnesses recounted harrowing experiences, such as chemical engineering student Emma Ferraro, who fled upon hearing gunshots, seeking refuge in a nearby building. Students in an adjacent lab took precautions, turning off lights and seeking cover under desks after receiving safety alerts. The university, boasting a substantial student population and high tuition costs, faced a somber reality following the tragic incident.