Tragedy Strikes Brown University: Person of Interest Detained After Heartbreaking Shooting That Left 2 Dead and 9 Injured
A person of interest is in custody following a tragic shooting at Brown University that claimed the lives of two students and left nine others injured. The incident occurred during final exams on Saturday afternoon, triggering a chaotic response from law enforcement as hundreds of officers canvassed the Ivy League campus and surrounding Providence neighborhoods, urging students and staff to shelter in place. The lockdown lasted several hours before being lifted early Sunday morning, though authorities have yet to disclose a motive for the attack.
Col. Oscar Perez, the Providence police chief, confirmed that the detained individual is in their 30s. Investigators have indicated they are not looking for any additional suspects at this time, although no charges have been filed yet. The suspect was apprehended at a Hampton Inn hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, approximately 20 miles from Providence. Police and FBI agents continue to process the crime scene, with areas cordoned off as they investigate further.
Brown University has canceled all remaining classes, exams, and projects for the semester, allowing students to leave campus to emphasize the gravity of the situation. The gunman reportedly opened fire from a 9mm handgun inside a classroom in the engineering building, discharging over 40 rounds. While law enforcement has yet to recover the firearm, they did find two loaded 30-round magazines.
“Everybody’s reeling, and we have a lot of recovery ahead of us,” remarked Brown University President Christina Paxson during a press conference. As of Sunday morning, one student has been released from the hospital, while seven others are in critical but stable condition and one remains in critical condition.
In the aftermath of the shooting, many local businesses opted to remain closed, and community events, such as a scheduled 5K run, have been postponed. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley noted that while residents knew such violence could occur anywhere, experiencing it firsthand is profoundly unsettling. “This is an incredibly upsetting and emotional time for Providence, for Brown, for all of us,” he stated, addressing the media.
Witnesses recount harrowing experiences during the attack. Emma Ferraro, a chemical engineering student, described hearing gunshots while working on a project, prompting her to flee to safety. Surveillance footage later revealed a suspect dressed in black leaving the scene. Eva Erickson, a doctoral candidate and former contestant on CBS’s Survivor, also narrowly escaped the shooting, leaving her lab just minutes before the chaos erupted.
Students reacted swiftly, with many hiding under desks or seeking refuge in nearby buildings. Mari Camara, a junior from New York City, sought shelter in a local taqueria for over three hours, message friends as the situation unfolded outside.
Brown University, one of the USA’s most prestigious educational institutions, serves around 7,300 undergraduates and over 3,000 graduate students. As investigators continue to probe the shooting, the university community is grappling with the emotional and psychological ramifications of this tragic event.
The investigation remains ongoing, with more updates expected in the coming days as authorities seek to piece together the details of this shocking incident.
Original Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/brown-university-shooting-person-of-interest-detained-over-attack-that-killed-2-and-wounded-9-11765732958124.html
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Publish Date: 2025-12-14 22:57:00
