Rhode Island: A manhunt is under way after a mass shooting at Brown University left two students dead and nine others injured, prompting a campus-wide lockdown and shelter-in-place orders.
The shooting occurred inside a classroom at the Barus and Holley building, part of the university’s engineering school, where exams were being held. Police said the suspect opened fire during a review session before fleeing the scene.
Brown University, one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions in the United States and a member of the Ivy League, was immediately placed on lockdown as local and state police launched an extensive search for the gunman, who remains at large.
Rhode Island Hospital officials said most of the injured victims are in critical but stable condition. Authorities have not yet released the identities of those killed or wounded. Brown University President Christina Paxson stated that, “This is a day that we hoped never would come to our community. It is deeply devastating for all of us.”
Police released limited details about the suspect, describing him as a male wearing black, possibly with a mask. CCTV footage showed the suspect leaving the building after the attack, but his face was not visible. The weapon used in the shooting has not been recovered, and investigators have not confirmed whether the suspect has any connection to the university or identified a motive.
Providence Deputy Police Chief Tim O’Hara said additional armed resources had been deployed to search the area. An economics professor told local media that the shooting happened during a course review session led by a teaching assistant. Students reportedly scrambled for safety as shots were fired in the large first-floor classroom.
Authorities cleared the building later in the afternoon but did not locate the suspect or the firearm. Residents in surrounding areas were advised to remain indoors, while police escorted students and staff from non-residential campus buildings to safe locations.
Local businesses near the campus locked their doors as flashing police lights filled the area, according to media reports. One Brown student said she spent hours hiding inside a restaurant after rushing there for shelter. US President Donald Trump described the incident as a terrible thing and said prayers were with the victims and their families. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee called the shooting an unthinkable tragedy for the state’s capital city.
The attack adds to a growing toll of gun violence in the US. According to the Gun Violence Archive, it marks the 389th mass shooting recorded nationwide this year, defined as incidents in which four or more people are killed or injured, excluding the attacker. Police said the investigation remains ongoing and urged anyone with information to come forward.
TRENDING | Mass evacuations ordered as deadly storms batter US and Canada
