A person of interest has been detained following a deadly shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, US police have confirmed.
The tragic incident left two students dead and nine others injured, sending shockwaves through the Ivy League campus and the wider community.
Authorities say there is no ongoing threat, and a shelter-in-place order for students and nearby residents has now been lifted.
What Happened at Brown University?
The shooting took place on Saturday afternoon at around 4:00 pm local time (21:00 GMT) inside the Holley Engineering Building, located on the eastern side of Brown University’s campus.
According to officials:
A gunman opened fire inside a classroom
Students and staff immediately sought shelter
Emergency services responded within minutes
The campus was placed under lockdown as police launched a large-scale search operation.
Casualties and Medical Update
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed the following details on Sunday:
2 students were killed
9 people were injured
7 victims are in stable condition
1 person remains in critical but stable condition
1 injured person has been discharged from hospital
Brown University President Christina Paxson stated that all victims were students, including those who lost their lives.
The names of the victims have not yet been released, pending family notifications.
Person of Interest Detained
Police confirmed on Sunday that a person of interest has been detained in connection with the shooting.
Key points from authorities include:
No additional suspects are being sought
Police are working closely with prosecutors
Evidence collection is ongoing
A firearm was not found during a sweep of the building
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez reassured the public that the situation is now under control.
CCTV Footage and Investigation
Earlier in the investigation, police released CCTV images showing:
A male suspect
Wearing all-black clothing
Walking away from the scene shortly after the shooting
Investigators are continuing to review video footage and witness statements as part of the inquiry.
Campus Disruption and Student Support
In a statement released on Sunday, President Paxson said that:
Some areas of the campus remain restricted
Around 2,000 students were relocated to safe locations overnight
Local residents opened their homes to displaced students
She described the community response as deeply moving and said the university is offering full support to affected families.
“There are not enough words of comfort for families who lose a child, but we will do all we can,” Paxson said.
City and National Response
Mayor Smiley said Providence could now “breathe a little easier” following the lifting of the shelter order.
“We have trained for this moment, but this is not something that any community should have to train for,” he added.
On Saturday, hundreds of local police officers and federal agents were deployed to help locate the suspect.
White House Reaction
Speaking from the White House, President Donald Trump described the shooting as a “terrible thing”, offering condolences to the victims and their families.
Rising Concern Over Gun Violence in the US
The attack at Brown University adds to a growing number of mass shootings across the United States.
According to the Gun Violence Archive:
The US has recorded 389 mass shootings so far this year
The incident has once again raised serious questions about campus safety and gun violence prevention nationwide.
Sources and References
Providence Police Department statements
Brown University official press releases
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley’s public briefing
White House press comments
Gun Violence Archive data
Associated Press (AP) reporting
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