PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Two people were killed and nine others were wounded when a gunman opened fire Saturday afternoon inside Brown University’s Barus & Holley engineering and physics building, sparking chaos during finals and an urgent, multiagency search for the suspect. Officials said the Brown University shooting remains under investigation, with no motive announced and no arrests reported as the manhunt pushed into Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025.
Brown University shooting: what we know so far
Authorities said the violence erupted around 4:05 p.m. as exams were scheduled in the building, and that more than 400 officers were mobilized across Providence and the surrounding area as federal agents joined the response. A Reuters report said investigators recovered shell casings and were still working to determine why that location was targeted.
Casualties: Two people were killed and nine were wounded, with several injuries described by officials as critical or critical-but-stable.
Scene: The shooting unfolded inside an engineering building classroom during finals weekend, triggering a shelter-in-place order and a heavy police perimeter.
Suspect description: Police said the gunman was seen on surveillance footage wearing dark clothing, with witnesses telling investigators the person may have been wearing a mask, according to The Associated Press.
Public alerts: Early messaging caused confusion when initial updates suggested a person might be in custody before later alerts clarified otherwise, as reported by The Brown Daily Herald.
Manhunt, lockdown and what officials are asking for now
As investigators widened the search, officials urged residents near campus to stay inside while officers canvassed streets, reviewed video and tracked leads. Brown University President Christina Paxson called it “This is the day one hopes never happens, and it has,” as the university community awaited updates and families tried to reach loved ones.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said the city’s “heart is breaking,” and Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee pledged full state support as federal agencies assisted. ABC News reported that Providence police released video of a “person of interest” leaving the building after the attack.
Investigators are also asking the public to share any relevant photos, video or information. The FBI opened an online tip portal specifically tied to the case.
Context that predates the Brown University shooting
The Brown University shooting lands in a region that has spent recent years tightening firearm rules and publicly debating how to curb mass violence. In 2022, Rhode Island officials issued statewide guidance after new firearm-safety measures were signed into law, including restrictions involving high-capacity magazines and age requirements for purchases, detailed in the Rhode Island attorney general’s firearms legislation guidance.
More recently, McKee signed legislation in June 2025 banning the sale of certain military-style weapons in Rhode Island, according to the governor’s press release on the assault-weapons sales ban. And years before this week’s tragedy, the Brown community joined national calls to address gun violence; Brown documented a campus turnout during the 2018 National School Walkout at Brown.
For now, authorities say the priority is identifying and locating the suspect, stabilizing those wounded and restoring safety to a shaken campus. As the investigation continues, officials urged the public to avoid spreading unverified claims about the Brown University shooting and to report credible tips directly to law enforcement.
