A person of interest is in custody after the Saturday attack left two students dead and nine others injured during finals week
A devastating shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, has left the campus community reeling after two students were killed and nine others injured during what should have been a routine final exam review session. The attack unfolded Saturday afternoon at the prestigious Ivy League institution, sending students and faculty into lockdown for hours as law enforcement conducted an intensive manhunt.
Authorities announced early Sunday morning that a person of interest is now in custody in connection with the shooting. The breakthrough came after heavy police activity overnight at a hotel near the Providence airport, where CNN witnessed at least 20 officers, US Marshals and FBI agents entering a hotel room. Law enforcement officials at the scene confirmed the activity was connected to the investigation.
The attack during finals week
The violence erupted around 4:05 p.m. Saturday at the Barus and Holley building, a seven-story structure housing classrooms and laboratory space for the engineering and physics departments. Students were attending a Principles of Economics final exam review session when loud bangs suddenly rang out through the halls.
The timing made the attack particularly heartbreaking, as students were just days away from winter break and wrapping up their fall semester examinations. Many had been looking forward to reuniting with their families for the holidays. Instead, the campus transformed into an active crime scene with more than 400 law enforcement officers from local, state and federal agencies converging on the area.
Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed that all victims were students. Of the nine injured, six remained in critical but stable condition, one was listed as critical, and one was stable. One additional person received treatment and was released from Rhode Island Hospital.
Hours of terror and uncertainty
The shelter-in-place order that kept much of campus locked down for hours was finally lifted Sunday morning, though police activity continued in areas still considered active crime scenes. Students who had barricaded themselves in classrooms, libraries and dormitories spent a harrowing night waiting for authorities to clear buildings and ensure their safety.
The suspect, described as a male wearing dark clothing and estimated to be in his 30s, was captured on surveillance video walking down Hope Street near the attack location. Witnesses reported he may have worn a gray camouflage mask. Authorities indicated he fled the building on foot, and no weapon has been recovered.
A community in mourning
The tragedy struck particularly hard for some students who had already experienced school violence. Brown sophomore Zoe Weissman, who survived the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, expressed anger at having to endure another campus shooting. Many classmates turned to her for guidance on processing the trauma, a responsibility no student should bear.
The attack occurred on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which claimed 26 lives in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012. The timing added another layer of grief to an already painful moment for advocates working to prevent gun violence.
Investigation continues
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley revealed that the exterior doors of the building were unlocked during the shooting because exams were in progress, meaning anyone could have accessed the facility. This detail has prompted officials to review campus security protocols, with Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee indicating authorities will examine whether buildings were adequately secured.
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance both offered prayers for the victims and confirmed federal resources were being made available to assist the investigation. The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives joined local law enforcement in the comprehensive response.
Brown University has postponed all Sunday exams and is providing mental health resources and support services for the traumatized campus community. The investigation remains active as authorities work to determine the full circumstances surrounding this tragedy that has forever changed the lives of students, faculty and families.
Source: CNN