A person of interest has been taken into custody in connection with the deadly shooting at Brown University that killed two people and injured nine others, officials said on Sunday, after hours of panic and a massive manhunt that left large parts of Providence on edge.The shooting unfolded Saturday afternoon during a final exam review session for a large economics class inside the Barus and Holley engineering and physics building, a central academic facility on Brown’s campus. At 4.22 pm, the university issued an emergency alert warning students and staff of an active shooter and instructing them to lock doors, silence phones and remain hidden.
What followed was a chaotic and frightening evening. Hundreds of police officers flooded streets surrounding the Ivy League campus, knocking on doors, checking parked vehicles and sweeping neighbourhoods near Hope Street and Governor Street as the suspected gunman fled the scene. Restaurants and shops closed early, residents stayed indoors, and students sheltered in dormitories, basements and nearby businesses, including a popular tea shop.Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said at a late-night press conference that two people had been killed and nine others injured. Eight victims were shot and taken to hospital in critical condition, while a ninth person was hurt by bullet fragments. Authorities have not yet confirmed how many of the victims were Brown students.In the hours after the attack, university officials issued multiple alerts that were later corrected, at one point stating that a suspect had been detained before retracting the message. Another alert warning of additional gunfire off campus was also later described as inaccurate, adding to confusion and anxiety among students and residents.Police initially said they were searching for a male suspect dressed in black who exited the building on the Hope Street side. The type of weapon used remains unclear. Officials said more information would be released once the investigation progresses.President Donald Trump said on social media that he had been briefed on the incident and that the FBI was assisting local authorities. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee said state law enforcement and emergency management teams were fully engaged in the response.As the campus remains closed and classes suspended, Brown University officials said counselling and support services would be made available, while investigators work to determine the motive behind one of the deadliest campus shootings in recent years.
