Two people dead and eight wounded in mass shooting at Brown University, officials say | Rhode Island
At least two people were killed and eight others seriously injured in a shooting Saturday in the Brown University neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island, the city’s mayor said at a news conference, after the school issued an active shooter alert and urged students and staff to take shelter during the second day of final exams.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley told reporters around 6:30 p.m. local time that all 10 victims were known at the time, but the “shooter(s)” were still at large and the number of victims could change.
Brown University Police Chief Rodney Chatman described the investigation into the shooting as “a very fluid situation.”
Providence Deputy Police Chief Timothy O’Hara said the suspect was “a male dressed in black.”
The university said in a message to students and staff just after 6:30 p.m. local time: “There are eight additional victims in critical but stable condition in hospital. There remains a shelter in place. The shooter(s) are still not in custody at this time. Law enforcement is active in the area.”
“The situation persists and all members of the community must continue to shelter in place,” the school added on its website.
Minutes earlier, the school said a “previous report of a secondary shooting near Governor Street was unfounded.”
Authorities initially said a suspect was in custody, before saying that was not the case and that police were still searching for one or more suspects.
Students were asked to shelter in place while police responded to the scene, and people were asked to avoid the area. Officials cautioned that the information remains preliminary as investigators work to determine what happened.
Police were actively investigating and still gathering information at the scene, said Kristy DosReis, public information officer for the city of Providence.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Donald Trump said he had been “fully briefed” on the situation.
“What a terrible thing. And all we can do right now is pray for the victims and for those who were very seriously injured,” he said. “We’ll let you know later what’s going on. It’s a shame. It’s a shame. Just pray.”
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said on X that FBI and ATF agents “are at the scene of the tragic shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island. Please pray for everyone involved.”
The incident was reported near the Barus and Holley building, a seven-story structure that houses the school of engineering and physics department, according to the school’s website. It includes 117 laboratories, 150 offices, 15 classrooms and 29 laboratories.
“Urgent: There is an active shooter,” university students and staff were first warned at 4:22 p.m. local time. “Lock doors, silence phones, and remain hidden until further notice. Remember: RUN, if in the affected area, evacuate safely if you can; HIDE, if evacuation is not possible, take cover; FIGHT, as a last resort, take steps to protect yourself. Stay tuned for more safety information.”
The Ivy League school is a private, nonprofit institution with approximately 7,300 undergraduates and just over 3,000 graduate students, according to its website.
Saturday was the second day of final exams for the fall semester.
