What You Need to Know About the Shooting Incident at Brown University
In a shocking turn of events that reverberated through the academic community, a shooting took place inside an academic building at Brown University on Saturday afternoon. This tragic incident unfolded as students were in the midst of their final exams, resulting in the deaths of two students and leaving nine others injured.
Authorities in Providence, Rhode Island, announced on Sunday morning that they had apprehended a man in his twenties who is being regarded as a person of interest in the case. Although specific details about this individual, identified as Benjamin Erickson by a source close to the investigation, have not been disclosed, the police are actively working to understand the motive behind this alarming act.
The violent outbreak at this prestigious Ivy League institution has left the local community in a state of shock, especially as it occurred just days before students were set to depart for winter break. Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley expressed the collective sentiment, stating, "Perhaps on an intellectual level, we acknowledged that such violence could occur anywhere, including here, but experiencing it firsthand in our own community is a different matter altogether."
Messages of support and sympathy have flooded in from across the region and beyond, including condolences from President Trump. Speaking from the White House, he remarked, "Brown University is a remarkable institution. I wish a swift recovery to the nine injured individuals, and I extend my deepest condolences to the families mourning the loss of the two students."
As of Sunday, seven of the injured were reported to be in "critical but stable" condition, while one victim remained in critical condition, according to statements made by Brown University President Christina Paxson. Notably, one other individual has been treated and released from the hospital.
The shooting incident occurred around 4 p.m. ET in the Barus & Holley engineering and physics building, specifically during an economics class, as explained by Paxson. In her briefing, she emphasized the resilience of the community, stating, "We are strong, and we will overcome this tragedy. Nonetheless, it is devastating to face such an event."
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez confirmed that investigators are currently not seeking any additional suspects, although the investigation remains active. The individual of interest was located and detained on Sunday morning in a hotel room situated in Coventry, approximately 20 miles southwest of the university. FBI Director Kash Patel shared this update via a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Earlier, law enforcement had described the suspect as "a male dressed in black," who fled the scene on foot. However, details regarding how the gunman accessed the building remain unclear. Brown University Provost Francis Doyle mentioned that entry to the building typically requires a swipe card, yet the high volume of traffic during exam periods might have contributed to the situation.
Authorities also released a brief video showing a person of interest walking away from the shooting site, although the footage did not capture the individual’s face clearly.
In response to the tragedy, Doyle announced that Brown University would be canceling nearly all remaining in-person exams for the fall semester, shifting focus to provide necessary care and support to the university community as they navigate the grief, fear, and anxiety stemming from this unfortunate event.
Following the incident, officials lifted a shelter-in-place order that had been implemented for the Brown campus and its surrounding areas on Sunday morning.
