Two students were killed and at least nine other people were wounded Saturday after a gunman opened fire inside an engineering classroom at Brown University, sending students scrambling for cover and triggering a massive law enforcement response in the Rhode Island capital.
Providence police said officers were dispatched shortly after 4 p.m. local time to the university’s Barus & Holley building, a seven-story complex housing much of Brown’s engineering and physics research. Authorities said the shooter fled the Ivy League campus before police arrived and remained at large late Saturday.
Deputy Police Chief Timothy O’Hara said the suspect was described as a male dressed in black, believed to be in his 30s. The weapon used in the shooting had not been recovered. Surveillance video released by police showed a person of interest walking away along Hope Street, though the footage did not clearly show the individual’s face.
NBC News confirmed that two people were killed in the attack, while Brown University Health, which operates Rhode Island Hospital, said seven of the injured remained in critical condition late Saturday and one had been stabilized. Officials later identified an 11th victim who suffered non-life-threatening injuries from debris.
Chaos During Final Exams
The shooting occurred during the university’s final exam period, when classroom doors were open to accommodate testing, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said. O’Hara said investigators believe the gunman entered the building through an unlocked entrance and exited on the Hope Street side.
Students and staff described scenes of panic as shots rang out. Chiang-Heng Chien, a doctoral engineering student, told NBC affiliate WJAR that he and others hid beneath desks in a campus lab, turning off lights and locking doors.
“We decided to hide under our desks and stay completely silent,” Chien said. Police later escorted them out as officers swept the building room by room.
Brown University President Christina H. Paxson said in a message to the campus community that the shooting marked “a deeply tragic day for Brown, our families and our local community.”
Citywide Lockdown and Manhunt
A shelter-in-place order was imposed across the campus and surrounding Providence neighborhoods, affecting thousands of students and residents. City officials later corrected an earlier alert that had mistakenly indicated a suspect was in custody, a reversal that heightened anxiety across the city of roughly 190,000 people.
Mayor Smiley, who lives near the campus, said he watched emergency vehicles race past his home as police searched for the shooter.
“This is a day we prayed would never come,” Smiley said. “We’ve heard of these tragedies elsewhere, but not here.”
Federal Response and National Reaction
Federal agencies joined the investigation, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Providence police said. FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly expressed support for the victims and first responders.
Speaking after returning to the White House aboard Marine One, President Donald Trump called the shooting “a terrible thing” and urged Americans to pray for the victims and the wounded.
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee described the attack as “an unthinkable tragedy” and said the state was providing all available resources to local authorities.
Broader Context and Implications
The shooting adds to growing concerns over campus security nationwide, particularly during periods of heightened foot traffic such as exams and public events. While Ivy League schools have historically been viewed as insulated from mass violence, recent incidents across U.S. universities have prompted renewed scrutiny of building access policies, emergency alerts, and coordination with local police.
Experts note that unlocked academic buildings — common during finals — can present vulnerabilities, even at institutions with extensive security infrastructure. The rapid correction of inaccurate emergency alerts Saturday also highlights the challenge universities face in balancing speed and accuracy during fast-moving crises.
As investigators work to identify a motive and locate the suspect, Brown University officials said counseling services would be expanded and exams rescheduled as needed. For a campus known for its tight-knit academic culture, the attack leaves lingering questions about safety, preparedness, and the emotional toll on students and staff navigating grief during an already stressful academic period.
Authorities urged anyone with information about the suspect to contact Providence police as the manhunt continued into Sunday.
Source: NBC
