Law enforcement expert warns early details ‘often change’ as Brown manhunt continues

As police continue to search for a suspect accused of opening fire at Brown University, killing at least two people and injuring nine others, a law enforcement expert stresses that initial information is often incomplete or conflicting and that officers must verify information before acting.

“In situations like this, the facts often change, sometimes quickly,” said Jason Pack, a retired FBI supervisory special agent with 21 years of service. “Initial information comes from multiple sources, often under pressure, and law enforcement must verify each item before acting or making it public.

“At the same time, officers are currently doing some of the hardest work in policing, which is clearing buildings that are locked down.”

He added that law enforcement efforts constitute “slow, deliberate and dangerous work.”

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Crime scene tape blocks streets near Brown University as the investigation continues in Providence, R.I., Saturday. (Andrea Margolis/Fox News Digital)

“Every hallway, every stairwell, every classroom and office must be treated as a potential threat until it is eliminated,” he said.

An unidentified gunman was last seen leaving the Barus & Holley Engineering Building at the prestigious University of Rhode Island after the shooting around 4 p.m.

Several local law enforcement agencies, as well as the FBI and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), are investigating. Authorities said the suspected shooter was dressed in black.

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A law enforcement official walks past clothing on a sidewalk near an entrance to Brown University Saturday in Providence, R.I., during the investigation of a shooting. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Pack said officers “move methodically, often in low light conditions, with limited information and with the knowledge that someone inside these buildings may be frightened, hiding or unable to communicate clearly.”

“It requires discipline and restraint, not speed,” he said, adding that the search could extend into Sunday. “That’s why delays are getting longer and why you may hear updates that evolve throughout the night. Law enforcement must balance two responsibilities at once: acting fast enough to protect lives but slow enough to make sure nothing is missed.”

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Law enforcement near a state police armored vehicle at Brown University following a shooting Saturday on campus. (Andrea Margolis/Fox News Digital)

Pack said law enforcement’s goal is “simple but not easy.”

“Make sure every space is safe, every person is accounted for and the threat is fully addressed before restrictions are lifted,” he said.