Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, was the scene of a tragic shooting Saturday during final exams. A shooter in black opened fire inside the Barus & Holley building, killing at least two people and leaving eight others wounded. The attack unfolded amid engineering design tests, sending shockwaves across the campus and the surrounding community.
Incident Overview
The Barus & Holley building is a seven‑story complex that houses the School of Engineering and the physics department. According to the university’s website, the building contains more than 100 laboratories, dozens of classrooms and offices. Engineering design exams were underway when the shooting began. The suspect, described as a male in dark clothing, was last seen leaving the building.
Police Response and Search
Law enforcement officers combed campus buildings and sifted through trash cans for more than three hours after the shooting erupted. Deputy Chief of Police Timothy O’Hara said the suspect was a male in dark clothing who had departed the engineering building where the attack occurred. Mayor Brett Smiley announced that a shelter‑in‑place order was in effect for the area and urged people living near the campus to stay inside and not to return home until the order was lifted. “We have all available resources” to find the suspect, Smiley said. The mayor also noted that the eight wounded people were in critical but stable condition, but declined to say whether the victims were students.
University officials initially told students and staff that a suspect was in custody, only to later correct that statement and say police were still searching for a suspect or suspects, according to alerts issued through Brown’s emergency notification system. The mayor added that a person preliminarily thought to be involved was detained but was later determined to have no involvement.
Community and Student Reactions
Providence Councilmember John Goncalves, whose ward includes the Brown campus, said, “We’re still getting information about what’s going on, but we’re just telling people to lock their doors and to stay vigilant,” and added, “As a Brown alum, someone who loves the Brown community and represents this area, I’m heartbroken. My heart goes out to all the family members and the folks who’ve been impacted.”
Brown senior Alex Bruce was working on a final research project in his dorm directly across the street from the building when he heard sirens outside and received a text about an active shooter shortly after 4 p.m. “I’m just in here shaking,” he said, watching through the window as a half‑dozen armed officers in tactical gear surrounded his dorm. He feared for a friend who he thought was inside the engineering building at the time.
Students in a nearby lab hid under desks and turned off the lights after receiving an alert about the shooting, said Chiangheng Chien, a doctoral student in engineering who was about a block away from the scene. Mari Camara, 20, a junior from New York City, was coming out of the library and rushed inside a taqueria to seek shelter. She spent more than three hours there, texting friends while police searched the campus. “Everyone is the same as me, shocked and terrified that something like this happened,” she said.
Official Statements and Updates
President Donald Trump told reporters that he had been briefed on the shooting and “all we can do right now is pray for the victims.” He added, “It’s a shame,” in brief remarks at the White House.
Police are actively investigating and still gathering information from the scene, said Kristy DosReis, the chief public information officer for the city of Providence. The FBI said it was assisting in the response.
Brown is a private institution with roughly 7,300 undergraduate students and more than 3,000 graduate students.
Current Status and Next Steps
The suspect remains at large and police continue to search the campus for any clues. The shelter‑in‑place order will remain until officials confirm the area is safe. Authorities have not released any additional details about the suspect’s identity or motive.
Key Takeaways
- At least two people were killed and eight wounded in a shooting at Brown University’s Barus & Holley building.
- The suspect, a male in dark clothing, fled the scene; police are still searching for him.
- Mayor Brett Smiley declared a shelter‑in‑place order and urged nearby residents to stay indoors.
The incident has left the Brown community and the wider Providence area in mourning, with officials and residents alike calling for calm and vigilance as the investigation continues.
