Mass Shooting Spurs Campus Lockdown, Forces Brown to Cancel Finals

Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, sent students home following a mass shooting on campus that left two students dead and eight others injured. The incident, which occurred late Saturday in the Barus and Holley Engineering and Physics building, triggered a widespread lockdown and emergency response. The university canceled weekend final exams and placed all administrative and residential buildings on lockdown until law enforcement could safely assess the situation according to reports.

The suspected shooter, described as a man in his 30s wearing all black, was captured on video leaving the building and walking onto Waterman Street before fleeing the scene.

Although law enforcement initially reported that a suspect was in custody, they later clarified that no one had been taken into custody at the time of the shooting. By early Sunday, Providence Police confirmed that the suspect had been apprehended at a hotel in Coventry, about 16 miles from campus as reported by USAToday.

Emergency services scrambled to the campus, including police, fire, and rescue units from across the state. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed nine shooting victims had been treated, with six in critical condition. The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have joined the investigation, and officials are urging the public to submit any relevant footage or information according to reports.

Ongoing Investigation and Security Concerns

The suspect is believed to have entered the building through unlocked doors during a final exam period. Brown University President Christina H. Paxson confirmed that the shooting occurred during a scheduled review session for a Principles of Economics class. The university is now working with authorities to determine the motive and whether the shooter was affiliated with the campus .

Law enforcement officials have emphasized the importance of surveillance footage in identifying the suspect and understanding the timeline of events. Providence Police Cmdr. Tim O'Hara noted that shell casings were recovered from the scene but declined to provide details about the type of weapon used. The FBI has launched a dedicated website for the public to submit evidence, and police have established a tip line for information as reported by local sources.

Political and Community Reactions

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee, speaking at a press briefing, described the incident as "the unthinkable" and pledged the state's full support for the investigation. He also said he had spoken with President Donald Trump, who expressed a commitment to helping identify and apprehend the suspect. McKee reiterated that the suspect is likely a man in his 30s and that no additional threats to the broader Providence community have been identified according to official statements.

Congressional leaders, including U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, as well as U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo, all expressed condolences and support for the victims and the Brown community. Reed emphasized the importance of following law enforcement guidance during the ongoing investigation, while Amo called for stronger national policies to prevent future mass shootings according to congressional statements.

Implications for Campus Safety

The shooting has sparked renewed discussions about campus safety protocols, particularly the use of unlocked doors during high-traffic hours. Francis J. Doyle III, Brown's provost, confirmed that exams were held in the building during the shooting and that outer doors remained unlocked at the time. This detail has raised questions about whether additional security measures could have prevented the attack or minimized its impact according to university reports.

In response to the incident, the university has begun a full review of its safety policies. This includes assessing the effectiveness of emergency alerts and shelter-in-place procedures. Student accounts from the scene indicate that the initial warnings were received via email and text, with students instructed to run, hide, or fight as a last resort according to eyewitness reports.

The tragedy has also reignited debates about gun control in a state known for its strict firearm regulations. Rhode Island had previously recorded two mass shootings with five victims each, in 2014 and 2021, but had not seen a case of this scale. The state now faces the challenge of addressing how such an event could occur in a community that had long believed it was insulated from the national gun violence crisis according to official analysis.