On Saturday afternoon during final exams, a shooter dressed in black opened fire in the Barus & Holley building at Brown University, killing at least two people and wounding nine others. Authorities are still searching for the suspect.
The Shooting
The attack took place in the seven‑story Barus & Holley complex, which houses the School of Engineering and the physics department. Engineering design exams were underway when shots rang out. University President Christina Paxson confirmed that 10 people were shot; 10 students were confirmed victims, and a 11th person was injured by fragments, though it is unclear if that individual was a student.
Suspect Details
Police describe the suspect as a man in dark clothing who was last seen leaving the engineering building. Deputy Chief Timothy O’Hara said security footage showed the suspect walking away from the building, but his face was not visible. Some witnesses reported that he may have worn a camouflage mask and could be in his 30s.
Investigators are still unsure how he entered the first‑floor classroom where he opened fire. The outer doors of the building were unlocked, but rooms used for final exams required badge access, according to Providence’s mayor.
Investigation and Police Response
Officers scattered across the campus and into an affluent neighborhood filled with historic brick homes, searching academic buildings, backyards and porches late into the night. The police established a perimeter around a portion of the campus and maintained a shelter‑in‑place order. Streets that normally bustle with activity on weekends were eerily quiet.
The suspect was not in custody. University officials initially told students and staff that a suspect was in custody, but later clarified that was not the case. The mayor said a person preliminarily thought to be involved was detained but was later determined to have no involvement.
A law‑enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the shooter used a handgun.
University and Community Impact
Governor Dan McKee called the event “the unthinkable” and vowed that all resources were being deployed to catch the suspect. Mayor Brett Smiley urged residents near the campus to stay inside or not return home until the shelter‑in‑place order was lifted. Smiley said, “The Brown community’s heart is breaking, and Providence’s heart is breaking along with it.”
Brown University announced a shelter‑in‑place that remained in effect throughout the day. Nearly five hours after the shooting, officers in tactical gear led students out of some campus buildings and into a fitness center.
Victim and Survivor Accounts
Emma Ferraro, a chemical engineering student, was in the building’s lobby working on a final project when she heard loud pops coming from the east side. Once she realized they were gunshots, she darted for the door and ran to a nearby building where she sheltered for several hours.
Nine people with gunshot wounds were taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where one was in critical condition. Hospital spokesperson Kelly Brennan said six required intensive care but were not getting worse, and two were stable.
Students in a nearby lab hid under desks and turned off the lights after receiving an alert. Mari Camara, a junior from New York City, was coming out of the library and rushed into a taqueria to seek shelter, spending more than three hours there.
Alex Bruce, a senior biochemistry student, heard sirens outside and received a text about an active shooter shortly after 4 p.m. He was in his dorm across the street from the building when he watched officers surround his dorm.
Former CBS reality competition show “Survivor” contestant Eva Erickson left her lab in the engineering building 15 minutes before shots rang out. She was locked down in the campus gym following the shooting.
Key Takeaways
- Two students were killed and nine others wounded in the Barus & Holley building during final exams.
- The suspect, described as a dark‑clothed man possibly in his 30s wearing a camouflage mask, has not been located.
- Police established a perimeter, maintained a shelter‑in‑place order, and searched the campus and surrounding neighborhoods.
- Governor McKee and Mayor Smiley called for community solidarity and emphasized the need for all resources to be deployed to find the suspect.
- Rhode Island Hospital treated nine gunshot victims, with one in critical condition.
The shooting has left the Brown community and Providence city in mourning, with authorities continuing to search for the suspect while the university and local leaders call for calm and support for victims and their families.
