A tragic shooting incident unfolded on Saturday at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, resulting in the deaths of at least two people and critically injuring nine others. The suspect, described as a male dressed in black, remained at large for hours after initial shelter-in-place orders were issued across the campus and the surrounding affluent neighborhood. The incident occurred during final examinations, prompting widespread fear and a massive law enforcement response.

The shooting took place within the Barus and Holley building, a seven-story structure housing the university's School of Engineering and physics department, which contains numerous laboratories, offices, and classrooms. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed that the doors to this engineering and physics building were unlocked at the time, as many final exams were underway, allowing for potential access by anyone. University president Christina Paxson later confirmed that the two people killed were students, and a total of ten individuals were shot, with an additional person injured by fragments.

Following the shooting, eight people with gunshot wounds were transported to Rhode Island Hospital, with six initially reported to be in critical but stable condition. A ninth critically injured person was later identified. Police, including Deputy Chief Timothy O’Hara of the Providence police, immediately launched an extensive manhunt, deploying officers across the campus, searching academic buildings, backyards, and porches late into the night. Surveillance footage of the suspected shooter was released, with witnesses reporting that the man, who could be in his 30s, may have been wearing a camouflage mask.

The search for the suspect was complicated by the fact that downtown Providence was crowded with holiday shoppers and concertgoers. Federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and ATF, along with police from neighboring cities and towns, joined the effort. Initially, university officials mistakenly reported that a suspect was in custody, only to later retract the statement and confirm that the manhunt was ongoing.

The incident drew widespread condemnation and expressions of sorrow from public figures. Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee stated that “the unthinkable has happened,” while President Christina Paxson conveyed the community’s demand for answers, assuring that support was being mobilized for students and their families. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley urged prayers for the victims’ families, highlighting the proximity to Christmas. Nationally, Donald Trump, who was briefed on the situation, expressed sorrow and called for prayers for the victims, a sentiment echoed by US Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Students on campus recounted harrowing experiences. Chiang-Heng Chien, working in a lab with three others, received an active shooter alert and took cover under desks for approximately two hours. Alex Bruce, a senior biochemistry student, described shaking in his dorm directly across from the Barus and Holley building after hearing sirens and receiving the active shooter text, fearing for a friend believed to be inside the engineering building. Brown, an Ivy League institution, is a private, non-profit university with approximately 7,300 undergraduates and over 3,000 graduate students, making Saturday, the second day of final exams, a particularly vulnerable time for such an event.