More than 400 law enforcement personnel were deployed on Saturday as authorities searched for the suspect in a shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island. The attack left two students dead and nine others wounded, prompting an extended lockdown at the Ivy League campus.
The university remained under shelter-in-place orders for hours after a gunman entered a building where students were taking exams. Although officials say they do not believe there is an “ongoing, targeted threat,” Providence Mayor Brett Smiley explained the lockdown must continue while officers conduct a large-scale manhunt.
Campus on Lockdown as Agencies Search for Gunman
Emergency vehicles filled the streets around the campus, and security was heightened city-wide as local, state, and federal agencies—including the FBI and ATF—joined the investigation.
Police released video footage of the suspect, described as a man possibly in his 30s, dressed in black and potentially wearing a mask. Investigators recovered shell casings from the scene but have not released further details.
The gunman escaped after opening fire inside the Barus & Holley engineering building, where doors had been left unlocked for scheduled exams. Detectives are working to determine why the location was chosen.
Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed that nearly all victims were students. Seven of the nine injured remained in critical condition late Saturday.
Students Hid Under Desks for Hours
Brown student Chiang-Heng Chien told local media that he and several others sheltered under lab desks for two hours after receiving alerts about an active shooter.
Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee vowed the suspect would be caught, saying, “We’re going to make sure the individual who caused this suffering is brought to justice.”
Officials noted that the search was slowed by heavy weekend activity, including holiday shoppers and thousands attending concerts and events. Police called for assistance from the public and urged witnesses to submit any videos or information. Several tips have been received but none have yet led to a breakthrough.
President Donald Trump told reporters he had been briefed on the “terrible” situation and urged people to pray for the victims.
Another Tragedy in a Nation Plagued by Mass Shootings
The shooting comes amid a broader pattern of gun violence in the United States, where mass shootings occur far more frequently than in other developed nations. The Gun Violence Archive has recorded 389 mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, including at least six in schools. Last year, the total surpassed 500.
Brown sophomore Zoe Weissman told Reuters she felt “numb and angry.” Weissman, who previously testified for an assault weapons ban, survived the 2018 Parkland school shooting in Florida.
“I’m shocked, but I’m not surprised,” she said.