Brown University Shooting Incident
A shooting occurred on Saturday afternoon at Brown University's Barus & Holley engineering and physics building in Providence, Rhode Island, resulting in two fatalities and nine injuries. The incident took place around 4 p.m. ET while students were participating in final exams.
Casualties and Conditions
Two students were killed in the event. Of the nine individuals injured:
- Seven were reported to be in critical but stable condition as of Sunday.
- One individual was in critical condition.
- One individual was treated at a hospital and subsequently discharged.
Investigation and Apprehension
Providence, R.I., officials reported on Sunday morning that a male in his 20s had been detained as a person of interest. A source familiar with the investigation identified this individual as Benjamin Erickson. Authorities have not publicly disclosed further details regarding the individual or a potential motive.
The apprehension took place Sunday morning in a hotel room in Coventry, approximately 20 miles southwest of Brown University, following a lead provided by the Providence Police. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the detention.
Prior to the detention, investigators had been searching for a suspect described as "a male dressed in black" who fled the scene on foot. The method of entry into the building remains undetermined, although Brown University Provost Francis Doyle noted that card access is typically required for the building, and there was likely high traffic during exam periods.
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez stated on Sunday that investigators were not actively seeking additional individuals in connection with the incident, but the investigation is ongoing.
University Response
Brown University announced the cancellation of nearly all remaining in-person final exams for the fall semester. This decision was made to allow the university to allocate resources towards providing support for its community members.
The shelter-in-place order for the Brown campus and surrounding areas was lifted on Sunday morning. The attack occurred days before the university's winter break period.