Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, was rocked by a tragic shooting on December 13, 2025, leaving two students dead and nine others injured. Authorities have confirmed that a person of interest in his 30s has been detained in connection with the attack, which occurred in the Barus & Holley building, home to the university’s engineering and physics departments.

Timeline of Events

At approximately 4:05 p.m. local time, emergency responders received a 911 call reporting an active shooter on campus. Seventeen minutes later, the university issued its first emergency alert:

“Lock doors, silence phones and stay hidden until further notice. RUN if you can safely evacuate; HIDE if evacuation is not possible; FIGHT as a last resort.”

Students and staff followed shelter-in-place orders while law enforcement swept the building for the suspect. Police later clarified that no one had been apprehended at that time.

Manhunt and Law Enforcement Response

More than 400 law enforcement personnel, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), were deployed to search streets and buildings surrounding the campus. Providence police chief Colonel Oscar Perez confirmed the detention of a male suspect in his 30s on Sunday and stated that authorities are not searching for additional suspects.

Deputy Police Chief Timothy O’Hara described the suspect as possibly wearing a mask and dressed in black. Shell casings were recovered from the scene, but additional details have not been released as the investigation continues.

University and Community Response

Brown University President Christina Paxson expressed her deep sorrow over the incident:

“This is a day that we hoped never would come to our community. It is deeply devastating for all of us.”

The victims have been confirmed as students, though their identities have not been publicly released. Mayor Brett Smiley assured the community that there is no ongoing threat and encouraged witnesses to come forward with any information about the shooting.

Security remained heightened around the campus in the aftermath, with streets crowded with emergency vehicles and university staff coordinating lockdown procedures.

Broader Context of Campus Violence

This incident marks the second major campus shooting in the United States within a week. On December 9, 2025, a shooting at Kentucky State University resulted in one student killed and another critically injured. Authorities identified the suspect in that case as a parent of a student at the university.

Brown University, founded in 1764, is the seventh-oldest university in the United States and a member of the prestigious Ivy League, with a student population of approximately 11,000.

Next Steps in the Investigation

Police and federal investigators continue to review security footage, interview witnesses, and collect forensic evidence from the Barus & Holley building. Updates on the suspect’s motive, connection to the university, and further details of the attack are expected as the investigation progresses.