PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A tragic incident unfolded at Brown University on Saturday as a shooter dressed in black took the lives of at least two people and injured nine others during final exams on the prestigious Ivy League campus. The authorities are actively searching for the suspect responsible for the senseless violence.
University President Christina Paxson stated that among the 10 individuals shot, all were believed to be students. Additionally, another person was injured by fragments from the shooting, although their student status remains unclear.
Following the shooting, officers meticulously searched the campus and surrounding affluent neighborhood, characterized by historic brick homes. The suspect, described as a male in dark clothing, was last seen leaving the engineering building where the attack occurred, according to Timothy O’Hara, deputy chief of Providence police.
Video footage captured the suspect exiting the building, although his face was not identifiable, O’Hara mentioned. Witnesses suggested that the suspect, possibly in his 30s, might have been wearing a camouflage mask.
Authorities are still investigating how the shooter gained access to the first-floor classroom, as the outer doors of the building were unlocked, although rooms designated for final exams required badge access, as per Providence’s mayor.
Hunt for suspect quiets campus, city streets
Law enforcement sources indicated that the shooter used a handgun in the attack. Rhode Island, known for its strict gun laws, passed an assault weapon ban last spring, aiming to restrict the sale and manufacturing of certain high-powered firearms starting next July.
“The unthinkable has happened,” expressed Democratic Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee, emphasizing the deployment of all available resources to capture the suspect.
Mayor Brett Smiley advised a shelter-in-place for residents near the campus and urged them to remain indoors until further notice. The usually bustling city streets were eerily quiet as the community grappled with the tragic event.
“The Brown community’s heart is breaking, and Providence’s heart is breaking along with it,” shared Mayor Smiley.
Emma Ferraro, a chemical engineering student, recounted being in the lobby of the building when the shooting occurred. She swiftly sought refuge in a nearby building, where she stayed for several hours.
Nine individuals with gunshot wounds were transported to Rhode Island Hospital, with one in critical condition, as per Kelly Brennan, a hospital spokesperson. Six individuals required intensive care but were stable, while two others were in a stable condition.
Police evacuated buildings
Initially, university officials indicated that a suspect was in custody, only to retract the statement later. The mayor clarified that an individual initially thought to be involved was detained but was subsequently found to have no connection to the incident.
Nearly five hours post-shooting, students in some campus buildings were escorted by officers in tactical gear to a fitness center for safety.
The shooting transpired in the Barus & Holley building, a prominent complex housing the School of Engineering and physics department. The building encompasses over 100 laboratories, numerous classrooms, and offices, as per the university’s website.
Engineering design exams were underway at the time of the shooting in the building.
Former ‘Survivor’ contestant had just left the building
Eva Erickson, a Ph.D. candidate and former finalist on “Survivor,” revealed that she exited the engineering building just 15 minutes before the tragic incident. Erickson, known for her candid portrayal as the show’s first openly autistic contestant, sought refuge in the campus gym post-shooting and confirmed the safe evacuation of her lab colleague.
Brown senior biochemistry student Alex Bruce, who was working on a research project in his dorm across from the building, expressed his shock and fear upon hearing about the active shooter situation. He anxiously watched armed officers surrounding his dorm, concerned for a friend who might have been inside the engineering building.
Students hid under desks and inside stores
Students in a nearby lab took cover under desks and turned off lights upon receiving the shooting alert, shared Chiangheng Chien, a doctoral student in engineering located close to the scene.
Mari Camara, a junior from New York City, sought refuge in a taqueria after hearing about the incident while leaving the library. She spent hours inside, communicating with friends as the police conducted their operations on campus.
“Everyone is in a state of shock and terror, just like me, at the occurrence of such a tragic event,” Camara expressed.
President Donald Trump acknowledged being briefed on the situation and urged prayers for the victims.
Brown University, renowned as the seventh oldest higher education institution in the U.S., boasts a prestigious academic reputation with thousands of undergraduate and graduate students. The annual costs for tuition, housing, and related expenses amount to nearly $100,000, according to the university.
Reporting by Durkin Richer from Washington. Contributions from Associated Press journalists Mike Balsamo and Seung Min Kim in Washington; Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City; Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota; Martha Bellisle in Seattle; and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio.
