Tragedy Strikes Brown University as Gunman Opens Fire During Exams
A sense of shock enveloped the Brown University community on Saturday afternoon when gunfire erupted inside one of its academic buildings during final exams. The incident, which occurred at the Barus & Holley building, resulted in the deaths of two students and injuries to nine others.
Providence, R.I., officials announced on Sunday morning that they have detained a man in his 20s as a person of interest. Although authorities have not disclosed any further details about the suspect, he has been identified as Benjamin Erickson by a source familiar with the investigation. The motive behind the shooting remains unknown.
The tragic event has left the Ivy League community in shock, with Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley expressing the collective disbelief. “I think maybe intellectually we knew it could happen anywhere, including here,” Smiley commented during a press conference on Sunday morning, “but that’s not the same as it happening in our community.”
The incident prompted an outpouring of sympathy from across the nation. President Trump extended his condolences to the victims and their families, acknowledging Brown University as a “great school.” He added, “To the nine injured, get well fast, and to the families of those two that are no longer with us, I pay my deepest regards and respects.”
Brown University President Christina Paxson provided an update on the victims, noting that seven individuals were in “critical but stable” condition as of Sunday, with one person in critical condition. Another victim had been treated and discharged from the hospital. The shooting disrupted an economics class around 4 p.m. ET, Paxson mentioned.
“Our community is strong, and we’ll get through it,” Paxson stated in a Sunday press briefing. “But it’s devastating.”
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez has confirmed that no additional suspects are being sought, though the investigation continues. The person of interest was apprehended in a hotel room in Coventry, approximately 20 miles from the university, based on a tip received by Providence Police. This detail was shared by FBI Director Kash Patel in a post on X.
The suspect, described earlier by investigators as “a male dressed in black,” reportedly fled the scene on foot. The method of entry into the building remains unclear, though Brown University Provost Francis Doyle mentioned that card access is required but noted “probably a lot of traffic” during exam periods.
Authorities had previously circulated a brief video showing a person of interest leaving the scene, but the footage did not capture a clear image of the individual’s face.
In response to the tragedy, Brown University decided to cancel most remaining in-person exams for the fall semester. Provost Doyle explained, “We need to focus our efforts on providing care and support to the members of our community as we grapple with the sorrow, fear, and anxiety that is impacting all of us right now.”
The shelter-in-place order for the Brown campus and surrounding areas was lifted on Sunday morning.
