The latest of what you need to know:
At least two victims were killed in an active shooter incident that began at Barus and Holley, according to an email to the Brown community. An additional eight victims have been hospitalized and are in critical condition. The incident occurred between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., and no suspect has been taken into custody.
Video footage depicted police appearing to assist several individuals lying on the ground near the Sciences Library. Several buildings across campus have been placed on lockdown and police have been sweeping.
At least two victims were killed in an active shooter incident that began at Barus and Holley, according to an email to the Brown community. An additional eight victims have been hospitalized and are in critical condition. The incident occurred between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., and no suspect has been taken into custody.
Video footage depicted police appearing to assist several individuals lying on the ground near the Sciences Library. Several buildings across campus have been placed on lockdown and police have been sweeping.
As of 7:20 p.m., of the eight shooting victims currently at Rhode Island Hospital, six are in critical but stable condition, one is in critical condition and one is in stable condition, according to Kelly Brennan, Senior Public Relations Officer for the hospital.
“Rhode Island Hospital is in lockdown at this time but is still accepting emergency department patients,” Brennan said, adding that the hospital has remained in “continuous communication with Brown University.”
“Rhode Island Hospital is in lockdown at this time but is still accepting emergency department patients,” Brennan said, adding that the hospital has remained in “continuous communication with Brown University.”
At 8:13 p.m., U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) wrote in a post on X that his “heart breaks for students who were looking forward to a holiday break and instead are dealing with another horrifying mass shooting, this time in our own Providence community.”
“We will get through this as a community,” he wrote in a follow-up post on the platform.
In a 8:40 p.m. statement, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) wrote that the shooting is “a horrific, active and unfolding tragedy.”
“Brown’s students and its neighbors are shaken,” he noted.
To apprehend the shooter, “every lead is being followed, every bit of video evidence reviewed, and the manhunt will relentlessly continue,” Reed wrote. “Our efforts will not cease until justice is served.”
“We will get through this as a community,” he wrote in a follow-up post on the platform.
In a 8:40 p.m. statement, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) wrote that the shooting is “a horrific, active and unfolding tragedy.”
“Brown’s students and its neighbors are shaken,” he noted.
To apprehend the shooter, “every lead is being followed, every bit of video evidence reviewed, and the manhunt will relentlessly continue,” Reed wrote. “Our efforts will not cease until justice is served.”
At 8:30 p.m., Paxson wrote in a statement sent to parents and families that “there are truly no words that can express the deep sorrow we are feeling for the victims of the shooting that took place today.”
Paxson noted that though earlier in the day, DPS “was at one point informed that there was an individual in custody, that person was determined not to be a shooting suspect after questioning.”
She also wrote that the eight victims currently hospitalized “are in critical but stable condition, but that this is an evolving situation.”
“Our hearts are with their families,” she added.
Paxson noted that though earlier in the day, DPS “was at one point informed that there was an individual in custody, that person was determined not to be a shooting suspect after questioning.”
She also wrote that the eight victims currently hospitalized “are in critical but stable condition, but that this is an evolving situation.”
“Our hearts are with their families,” she added.
Police officers are planning to use buses to evacuate students, officers told community members in the Rockefeller Library. Multiple videos reviewed by The Herald showed officers sweeping University libraries.
Students have been sheltering across campus since the incident began to unfold earlier today. According Katie Owens ’29, students in the Sharpe Refectory were brought away from the windows by staff around 4:30 p.m. and were later evacuated to a safer part of the building around 5:30 p.m.
“It took everyone a few minutes for everyone to realize what was happening,” Aamina Chaudry ’28 wrote in a text to The Herald. “The staff started to bring as many people who were running around outside into safety before they locked the doors.”
Approximately 140 students are still hiding in the building, according to staff.
Students have been sheltering across campus since the incident began to unfold earlier today. According Katie Owens ’29, students in the Sharpe Refectory were brought away from the windows by staff around 4:30 p.m. and were later evacuated to a safer part of the building around 5:30 p.m.
“It took everyone a few minutes for everyone to realize what was happening,” Aamina Chaudry ’28 wrote in a text to The Herald. “The staff started to bring as many people who were running around outside into safety before they locked the doors.”
Approximately 140 students are still hiding in the building, according to staff.
In a 7:28 p.m. statement posted to X, U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo (D-R.I. 1) wrote that “the loss of two lives is a tragedy” and that he is “praying for the recovery of the victims in the hospital.”
In a post on X last edited at 7:34 p.m., U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner ’06 (D-R.I. 2) wrote that the University “is the site of so many happy memories” for him. He added that students “whose memories will be forever marred by this tragedy, and the families of those lost tonight” are in his thoughts.
In a post on X last edited at 7:34 p.m., U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner ’06 (D-R.I. 2) wrote that the University “is the site of so many happy memories” for him. He added that students “whose memories will be forever marred by this tragedy, and the families of those lost tonight” are in his thoughts.
Susanna Sharp ’29 wrote in a message to The Herald that she was studying in Barus and Holley when she heard “around 15 to 20” loud noises, unsure if they were gunshots. But after two other students in the room received phone calls shortly after, Sharp began to grow concerned. “I jumped from my seat,” she wrote.
As they were exiting the building, she added, she saw that tables in the Engineering Research Cafe — located in the lobby of Barus and Holley — had student belongings lying on them, but there were no students sitting at the tables. She assumes that “most of the first floor ran out when the shots happened.”
As they were exiting the building, she added, she saw that tables in the Engineering Research Cafe — located in the lobby of Barus and Holley — had student belongings lying on them, but there were no students sitting at the tables. She assumes that “most of the first floor ran out when the shots happened.”
In an email to the Brown Community, President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20 confirmed that there were two fatalities and eight more victims in critical but stable condition, though the situation is “evolving." Law enforcement is still working to identify the victims, she wrote, but Brown may not be able to immediately release their identities.
The suspect is still at large and campus will remain locked down, she said. Updates will continue to be sent out though the RAVE alert system and the Brown website.
Paxson encouraged community members to reach out to their families. “They are worried about you,” she wrote.
“This is a deeply tragic day for Brown, our families and our local community," Paxson added. “There are truly no words that can express the deep sorrow we are feeling for the victims of the shooting that took place today at the Barus & Holley engineering and physics building.”
The suspect is still at large and campus will remain locked down, she said. Updates will continue to be sent out though the RAVE alert system and the Brown website.
Paxson encouraged community members to reach out to their families. “They are worried about you,” she wrote.
“This is a deeply tragic day for Brown, our families and our local community," Paxson added. “There are truly no words that can express the deep sorrow we are feeling for the victims of the shooting that took place today at the Barus & Holley engineering and physics building.”
In messages to The Herald, Martyna Kaps ’29 wrote that as she was leaving a 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. review session in Barus and Holley 166 for ECON0110: “Principles of Economics,” she heard “loud bangs” and saw students running from the room.
“There were still people in the classroom,” she added. “From what I heard, many of them dove behind the teacher’s desk and hid there to avoid the bullets.”
“There were still people in the classroom,” she added. “From what I heard, many of them dove behind the teacher’s desk and hid there to avoid the bullets.”
In a press conference, Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed two deceased victims and eight others in critical but stable conditions at Rhode Island Hospital. No shooter is in custody, he added, and a shelter in place is still active for the “broader Brown Community.”
"It's important to remind folks these numbers may change," Smiley said at the press conference.
Providence Police Department Deputy Chief Timothy O’Hara said in a press conference that officers conducted a “systematic” search of Barus and Holley and one suspect was initially identified. “The suspect is a male dressed in black” who “exited on the Hope Street side of the complex,” he said. “No suspect is under arrest,” he added, and he urged people to stay out of the area.
Providence Fire Chief Derek Silva also confirmed “two victims were dead on arrival” in the press conference.
At the press conference, Brown University Police Chief Rodney Chatman said that the situation is “very fluid” and “dynamically evolving.”
"It's important to remind folks these numbers may change," Smiley said at the press conference.
Providence Police Department Deputy Chief Timothy O’Hara said in a press conference that officers conducted a “systematic” search of Barus and Holley and one suspect was initially identified. “The suspect is a male dressed in black” who “exited on the Hope Street side of the complex,” he said. “No suspect is under arrest,” he added, and he urged people to stay out of the area.
Providence Fire Chief Derek Silva also confirmed “two victims were dead on arrival” in the press conference.
At the press conference, Brown University Police Chief Rodney Chatman said that the situation is “very fluid” and “dynamically evolving.”
Providence City Councilman John Goncalves posted a video to his Instagram warning viewers to take safety precautions and “allow first responders to do their work.” He advised viewers to listen only to official correspondence from Brown University and local law enforcement.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the Brown University community and everyone impacted by this event,” he said.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the Brown University community and everyone impacted by this event,” he said.
In a 6:34 p.m. email sent to the Brown community, University administrators wrote that there were “confirmed reports of two deceased victims” from the active shooting at Barus and Holley, with eight additional victims “in critical, but stable condition.” The deceased victims have yet to be identified. The email added that law enforcement officials do not have a suspect in custody.
In posts to X, the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and FBI Boston Field Office stated that they were assisting in responding to the incident.
In a 6:06 p.m. email to the Brown community, University administrators confirmed that there are multiple shooting victims who have been transported to local hospitals. Students in Barus and Holley, where there were multiple ongoing final exams, have been relocated, they said.
“Senior administrative leaders from across the University are convened in emergency command to mobilize ongoing response and support for our community. We are establishing support for our community and families,” administrators wrote.
“Senior administrative leaders from across the University are convened in emergency command to mobilize ongoing response and support for our community. We are establishing support for our community and families,” administrators wrote.
At 5:53 p.m., the DPS sent a fifth alert stating that the “situation remains ongoing.”
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Herald Staff
Staff from The Brown Daily Herald
