Attacker ‘Yelled Something’ Then Opened Fire

A Brown University professor told Ocean State Media that the shooting happened Saturday in his classroom during review for a final exam, and that the attacker “yelled something” then opened fire.

Economics professor Rachel Friedberg was not in class at the time, instead the class was being taught by a teaching assistant.

The teaching assistant survived the attack and told Friedberg what happened. Friedberg explained: “The venue is equipped with stadium seats with doors that enter from the top. He said the shooter came in through the doors, shouted something – he didn’t remember what he shouted – and started shooting.”

She added, “Students started scrambling to try to get away from the shooter, trying to get lower into the stadium seats, and people were getting shot. I don’t know if they were the only ones who got shot or not.”

CNN spoke to the teaching assistant, who said: “He walked in, pointed his gun, and then yelled something. I don’t know what he said, and none of the other students know what he said. Then he just started shooting right after.”

Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez confirmed Sunday morning that a “person of interest” was in custody in connection with the shooting, but no details about his race/ethnicity, religion or motivations have been released. The attacker used a handgun.