Brown University Shooting: What We Know About the Tragic Campus Attack

Tragedy Strikes Brown University: Unpacking the Deadly Campus Shooting

A somber atmosphere hangs over Providence, Rhode Island, following a devastating shooting incident at Brown University that claimed two lives and left several others wounded. A massive law enforcement operation is currently underway to apprehend the perpetrator of what has become a shocking act of violence at a prominent U.S. educational institution. This article provides a comprehensive overview ofwhat we know so far about the Brown University shootingand the intense investigation unfolding.

The Attack Unfolds: A Campus Under Siege

On a Saturday afternoon, an assailant armed with a firearm entered Brown University’s Barus and Holley building, home to the engineering school and physics department, while students were reportedly engaged in exams. The tranquility was shattered when the attacker opened fire, tragically killing two individuals and critically injuring eight others. A ninth victim sustained injuries from bullet fragments.

University President Christina Paxson indicated that the victims are believed to be students, though their identities have not yet been publicly released. The first emergency call reached responders at approximately 4:05 PM local time (21:05 GMT). Just seventeen minutes later, the university issued an urgent alert, warning of a gunman near the engineering building and instructing those on campus to silence their phones and seek immediate cover. Law enforcement quickly swept the building, but the suspect had already fled the scene.

The Search for the Suspect: A Coordinated Manhunt

Authorities have since released a video of the unidentified suspect, described as a male possibly in his 30s, dressed in black. While Deputy Police Chief Timothy O’Hara noted the attacker might have worn a mask, officials are not entirely certain. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley assured the public that investigators do not believe there is any “specific, ongoing threat” from the attacker, who is thought to have escaped along a bustling street lined with restaurants and coffee shops.

The scale of the response highlights the gravity of the situation: over 400 law enforcement personnel have been deployed in the manhunt, meticulously canvassing the local area. A shelter-in-place order was swiftly enacted for the university campus and surrounding Providence neighborhoods. This extensive effort involves agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), working collaboratively with local and state police forces.

Investigators have recovered shell casings from the scene and are actively exploring the motive behind the target selection as a critical part of their inquiry into this horrificshooting at Brown University.

University Response and National Attention

The incident quickly garnered national attention. The U.S. President was briefed on the “terrible” situation, expressing prayers for the victims and those seriously harmed. It’s worth noting that an early, erroneous report of a suspect being detained was later retracted by the President on his online platform, echoing a similar initial incorrect claim from the university.

Brown University, a distinguished member of the Ivy League and one of the oldest universities in the nation, was founded in 1764. With an enrollment of 11,000 students and a highly selective admissions process (accepting only about 5 percent of undergraduate applicants in its latest intake), the institution is renowned for academic excellence. The campus community, along with the city of Providence, now grapples with the aftermath of this unprecedented act of violence, united in their hope for justice and recovery.