Authorities have apprehended a person of interest in connection to the shooting at Brown University in the United States, an incident that resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to nine others.
The shelter-in-place order previously issued for the Brown University campus and surrounding areas has been lifted.
According to data compiled by the Gun Violence Archive, an independent research website, this on-campus attack marks the 389th mass shooting in the U.S. this year. Gun Violence Archive.
The organization defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more victims are injured or killed, excluding the perpetrator.
Here’s what we know:
Officials report that the suspect opened fire at approximately 16:00 local time (21:00 GMT) on Saturday in a classroom located within the Barus and Holley engineering building, situated on the eastern side of the Brown University campus.
The university confirmed that final examinations were being conducted in the building at the time of the shooting.
The Barus and Holley engineering building is a seven-story structure encompassing 117 laboratories, numerous classrooms, and three lecture halls.
According to a local media report from Ocean State Radio, an economics professor stated that the shooting occurred during a review session for her course, which was being led by her teaching assistant.
Rachel Friedberg recounted, “He said that the shooter came in the doors, yelled something – he couldn’t remember what he yelled – and started shooting.”
“Students started to scramble to try to get away from the shooter, trying to get lower down in the stadium seating, and people got shot,” she added.
Investigators stated on Saturday that the means by which the shooter gained entry to the first-floor classroom remained unclear.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley noted that while the building’s outer doors were unlocked, access to rooms being used for final exams required badge access.
Two students present in the nearby Rockefeller library during the active gunman alert informed the BBC that they “stayed away from the windows” while awaiting a police escort.
The students reported that officers searched the floor, instructed them to drop their belongings, and raise their hands before leading them out of the library.
Brown University, a member of the Ivy League and one of the oldest higher education institutions in the U.S., is located in Providence, the capital city of Rhode Island, approximately 50 miles (80km) from Boston and 180 miles (290km) from New York City. The university has a student population of over 11,000.
The incident resulted in the deaths of two students and injuries to nine others.
Mayor Smiley told reporters on Sunday that one person is in critical condition and seven others are in stable condition at a hospital. He added that one person with less severe injuries was discharged.
The identities of the deceased and injured have not been released; however, Brown University President Christina Paxson stated in a press briefing that all victims, including those killed and wounded, were students.
“This is a day that we hoped never would come to our community. It is deeply devastating for all of us,” she said in a statement.
The university released a statement on Sunday indicating that support is being provided to the families of the two students who died.
“There are not enough words of comfort for families who lose a child, but we will do all we can,” Ms. Paxson stated.
According to police reports, a ninth victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries from fragments resulting from a shooting “that had occurred near them,” not a direct gunshot wound.
Officials announced on Sunday that a person of interest has been taken into custody in connection with the shooting.
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez stated that limited details would be released regarding the detained suspect, but confirmed that he is in his 20s.
FBI director Kash Patel stated in a post on X that the suspect was apprehended at a hotel in Coventry in the early hours of Sunday morning based on a lead from Providence Police.
A law enforcement source informed CBS News, the BBC’s U.S. partner, that the person of interest is not currently enrolled as a student at Brown University.
Officials confirmed on Sunday that law enforcement is not searching for any other suspects.
On Saturday, police released CCTV footage depicting a male suspect dressed in all black clothing walking away from the scene of the shooting.
The video does not show a visible weapon, and the suspect’s face is obscured. Officials also stated that a firearm was not discovered during a sweep of the building on Saturday.
Some witnesses reportedly informed officers that the suspect may have been wearing a camouflage grey mask.
An individual was arrested before police determined they were not involved in the shooting and released them.
In a statement released by the university on Sunday, Ms. Paxson said that certain areas of campus remain restricted as police continue their investigations.
She mentioned that approximately 2,000 students were relocated to safe locations overnight, expressing her gratitude for the students and local residents who opened their homes.
Brown University announced that all remaining exams, papers, and projects would be postponed.
U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters upon his return to the White House after attending the annual Army-Navy football game, described the shooting as “a terrible thing.”
“All we can do right now is pray for the victims and for those that were very badly hurt,” he said.
Additional reporting by Pratiksha Ghildial
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