What we know so far about the Brown University shooting investigation : NPR
Reporter Paul C. Kelly Campos of Ocean State Media discusses the ongoing investigation into Saturday’s shooting at Brown University, which left two people dead and at least nine others injured.
MILES PARKS, HOST:
And 10,000 miles away from that horrific shooting in Australia, families in Rhode Island are also grieving after a shooting Saturday on the campus of Brown University that left two people dead. Nine other people were also injured. Earlier in the day, Mayor Brett Smiley of Providence, Rhode Island, said a person of interest was under arrest and the investigation was ongoing, although many questions remained. Reporter Paul C. Kelly Campos of Ocean State Media covered this story and he joins us now from Providence. Hi Paul.
PAUL C KELLY CAMPOS, BYLINE: Hi. Thank you for inviting me.
PARKS: Yeah. Thanks for being here. So can you give us an update on this investigation? What do the police and authorities say?
CAMPOS: Providence Police Chief Oscar L. Perez said the investigation is moving extremely quickly, but did not release more information about the identity of the person who was arrested Sunday morning at a hotel in the semi-rural town called Coventry, Rhode Island. He wondered exactly how his ministry was informed of the presence of this interesting person. The person of interest was also described as a man in his 20s, but no additional information was provided. FBI Director Kash Patel said the FBI’s cellular analysis team also helped locate the suspect. Chief Perez stated several times during Sunday’s press conference that his department did not want to share details until they were 100% sure before officially charging this individual with anything. As he says, the investigation is still progressing.
PARKS: Can you tell us more: Did we learn anything more about the victims of the shooting?
CAMPOS: Mayor Smiley did not release the names of the victims during the conference because he said some of the victims’ families or relations had not yet been notified or informed of the situation due to vacation travel. Smiley said he spoke with some of the injured earlier this morning and, as of today, one of them has been released from the hospital.
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BRETT SMILEY: The conditions haven’t changed, as far as I understand. So, as was said earlier this morning, one person was released. One individual remains in critical but stable condition, and the other seven are in stable condition.
CAMPOS: The mayor also said this tragedy shook the city and the state of Rhode Island to its core.
PARKS: Yeah. What’s the scene like at Brown? Any idea of the atmosphere today?
CAMPOS: The atmosphere today was calm and somber during this snowy day. The students I spoke with were visibly distraught and shaken. Anh Nguyen, a medical student at Brown University, said he was in the middle of an exam when the stay-at-home order went into effect.
ANH NGUYEN: Unfortunately, this is like a second school shooting that I’ve been involved with. My last one was in undergrad. And I feel like something so unimaginable happens too often. But, you know, we have to pray for everyone, and I hope there will be action in the future.
PARKS: What’s the future here for Providence and for Brown? Where does this leave us, Paul?
CAMPOS: Mayor Smiley said today the investigation is entering a new chapter. Things end at the crime scene on campus. And in the meantime, Brown has also canceled all final exams for the time being. The community is still reeling from yesterday’s events, so a Christmas tree and menorah lighting ceremony, already scheduled for 5 p.m. at a nearby Providence park, turned into a memorial for the victims of the shooting.
PARKS: Reporter Paul C. Kelly Campos of our member station Ocean State Media in Providence, Rhode Island. Paul, thank you very much.
CAMPOS: Thank you.
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