In the aftermath of a tragic shooting at Brown University, a person of interest has been taken into custody, according to official statements. The incident, which occurred on a quiet Saturday afternoon during final exams, resulted in two fatalities and nine injuries. As reported by CBS News, the suspect, found in his 30s and not enrolled as a student, was detained at an area hotel without incident. This suspect was in possession of two guns, according to two law enforcement sources.
Authorities lifted the shelter-in-place order previously imposed on the Ivy League institution's campus, though sections remain an active crime scene. Wounded during the shooting, seven individuals remain in stable condition whereas one is currently in critical condition, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley shared in a statement obtained by Boston 25 News. Healing from the events, one person with less severe injuries was discharged.
While the suspect remains unidentified, surveillance footage depicted them dressed in black and leaving the scene calmly. With the suspect's face obscured, their potential affiliation with Brown University could not be determined from the video alone. Brown University President Christina Paxson, stricken with the weight of the moment, said at a news conference, "Everybody's reeling, and we have a lot of recovery ahead of us," according to Boston 25 News.
Following the events, heightened law enforcement presence has been assured to comfort the Providence community, mentioned Smiley at the conference Sunday. Badge access, according to officials, was needed to enter rooms within the engineering building where exams were taking place, leaving investigators questioning how the shooter gained access to the first-floor classroom. As Smiley said yesterday, the concerns raised for Brown Provost Francis Doyle who, during the weekend, acknowledged that understanding what transpired in such a busy building remains incomplete.
