2 People Killed, 9 Others Injured in Shooting at Brown University

Two people were killed and nine others were injured during a shooting on the campus of Brown University on Saturday afternoon, according to authorities.

Officials confirmed the deaths and injuries during a news conference held Saturday evening, Dec. 13. All nine injured victims were taken to local hospitals. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said that as of 6:45 p.m. local time, no suspect had been taken into custody.

Providence Police described the suspect as a male dressed in black. Commander Timothy O’Hara said investigators believe the suspect exited the campus complex on the Hope Street side and stressed that law enforcement was using every available resource to locate him.

Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee addressed the situation during the briefing, calling it “unthinkable” and urging the public to follow official updates.

Brown University first alerted students and staff to an active shooter situation shortly after 4 p.m., saying shots had been fired near Barus & Holley, a computer lab and engineering building on campus. In an emergency alert, the university instructed people to lock doors, silence phones, and remain hidden.

At one point, officials mistakenly announced that a suspect was in custody, but later clarified that no arrests had been made. Police and university officials confirmed that multiple people had been shot, prompting continued shelter-in-place orders across campus.

In a post on X around 5:15 p.m., the university warned the community to stay away from the Barus & Holley area and said police were still actively searching for the suspect. Additional alerts later mentioned reports of shots fired near Governor Street, though the university later clarified that those reports were unfounded.

By early evening, Brown University confirmed multiple victims but said it could not immediately release details about their conditions. Officials noted that several exams had been scheduled in the building at the time of the shooting and said support services were being provided for students and staff.

Governor McKee also shared a statement on social media, saying state police and emergency management teams were working closely with local law enforcement and asking the public to avoid the area.

Video from the scene showed police officers assisting several people near the Sciences Library. A Brown student told the campus newspaper The Brown Daily Herald that she heard gunshots while studying nearby and ran from the building. “It was honestly quite terrifying,” she said.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not released further details about the suspect or a possible motive.