In a deeply troubling incident that has shaken the community, police in Providence have apprehended a "person of interest" linked to a shooting at Brown University, which tragically resulted in the deaths of two students and left nine others injured.
Kristy DosReis, the chief information officer for public safety, confirmed to Reuters that an individual is currently in police custody following this horrifying event. According to Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez, a suspect was arrested early on Sunday, December 14, and authorities have stated that they are not looking for any additional suspects at this time. However, specifics regarding this person remain undisclosed as the investigation is still ongoing.
As for those injured, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley reported that seven of the victims are now in stable condition. One individual remains in critical but stable status, while another has since been released from medical care. In light of the arrest, Mayor Smiley indicated that the shelter-in-place order for nearby neighborhoods had been lifted, although certain streets remain closed as investigators continue their work. He assured residents to expect a significant police presence throughout the city. "The people of Providence should breathe a little easier this morning," he remarked.
Brown University also announced that the shelter-in-place order for its campus in Rhode Island had been rescinded. Over 400 law enforcement officers were deployed on Saturday while searching for the gunman who had entered a building where students were taking exams, armed with a firearm.
Parts of the campus still faced access restrictions on Sunday as police set up a security perimeter around Minden Hall and adjacent apartment buildings. This Ivy League institution, which boasts hundreds of buildings including classrooms, laboratories, and dormitories, remained a focal point of the investigation.
On Saturday, emergency vehicles flocked to the area as various law enforcement agencies combed the campus for the suspect. Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) joined local and state police in the effort.
A video depicting a male suspect, likely in his 30s and dressed in black, has been released by officials. Providence Deputy Police Chief Timothy O'Hara mentioned that the suspect might have been wearing a mask, though this detail has not been verified. Investigators reported that shell casings were recovered from the scene.
The assailant reportedly fled after opening fire on students in a classroom located in Brown's Barus & Holley engineering building during an exam period, where outer doors had been left unlocked.
Brown University's President Christina Paxson expressed her sorrow, stating, "This is the day one hopes never happens, and it has."
As the news of the shooting spread, the university advised students to remain sheltered in place. Brown student Chiang-Heng Chien recounted to local TV station WJAR that he and three other students had to hide under desks for approximately two hours after receiving alerts about the active shooter situation occurring just a block away.
Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee assured the community that efforts would be made to ensure the shooter is brought to justice. President Donald Trump, addressing reporters at the White House, described the situation as "terrible" and confirmed he had been briefed on the developing circumstances.
In the broader context, mass shootings in schools, workplaces, and places of worship are sadly more frequent in the United States compared to many other nations, largely due to the country's relatively lax gun laws among developed countries. The Gun Violence Archive, which categorizes mass shootings as incidents involving four or more victims, has documented 389 such incidents across the U.S. this year alone, with at least six occurring at educational institutions. The previous year saw over 500 mass shootings, according to the same archive.
