Shooting Incident at Brown University
On Saturday afternoon, a shooting occurred inside the Barus & Holley engineering and physics building at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. The incident took place during final examinations in an economics class.
The event resulted in the deaths of two students and injuries to nine others. Seven of the injured were reported to be in critical but stable condition on Sunday, with one victim in critical condition. A ninth victim was treated at a hospital and subsequently discharged.
Investigation Updates
Providence, R.I., officials reported on Sunday morning that a man in his 20s, identified by a source familiar with the investigation as Benjamin Erickson, had been detained as a person of interest. Authorities have not released further details regarding the individual or a potential motive.
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez stated on Sunday that while investigators were not actively seeking other individuals, the investigation remained ongoing. The person of interest was detained in a hotel room in Coventry, approximately 20 miles southwest of Brown University, following a lead from the Providence Police. This information was confirmed by FBI Director Kash Patel via a post on X.
Earlier, law enforcement 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, which typically requires card swipe access, was unclear, although Brown University Provost Francis Doyle noted that the building likely experienced high traffic during exam periods. A short video of a person of interest walking away from the scene was previously released, but the individual's face was not visible.
Official and University Response
Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley commented on the situation, as did Brown University President Christina Paxson. President Trump offered condolences to those affected. Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez provided updates on the ongoing investigation.
In response to the incident, Brown University Provost Francis Doyle announced the cancellation of nearly all remaining in-person final exams for the fall semester. This decision was made to allow the university to focus on providing support to its community members.
A shelter-in-place order, which had been issued for the Brown campus and surrounding areas, was lifted on Sunday morning.