Brown University Shooting: A deadly shooting inside a classroom at Brown University during final examinations has left two students dead and nine others injured, triggering an intense manhunt across Providence, Rhode Island. The incident, which occurred inside the Barus & Holley engineering building, sent the Ivy League campus into lockdown and plunged the city into fear. More than 400 law enforcement officers, along with federal agencies, were deployed as the unidentified gunman escaped on foot.
While authorities continue to search for the suspect, officials urged the public to rely on verified information amid widespread misinformation and false reports circulating online
Key Developments in the Brown University Shooting Case
- Brown University shooting during exams shocks Providence community
- Two students killed, nine injured, including one by bullet fragments
- Gunman unidentified and at large, according to Providence police
- Over 400 law enforcement officers, FBI and ATF involved in search
- Campus lockdown and shelter-in-place orders enforced for hours
- False alerts and online misinformation added to chaos, officials say
Shooting Erupts Inside Engineering Classroom During Exam Review
The shooting took place late Saturday inside a first-floor classroom of Brown University’s Barus & Holley engineering and physics building, where a final exam review session for a Principles of Economics course was underway. According to the class’s professor, Rachel Friedberg, students were preparing for exams when gunfire erupted inside the room.
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Providence police said the gunman exited the building on the Hope Street side shortly after the shooting. Exterior doors of the building were unlocked at the time due to ongoing examinations, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley later confirmed, allowing open access amid heavy foot traffic.
Casualties: Two Students Killed, Nine Others Wounded
Officials confirmed that two students were killed in the attack. Nine additional people were injured, including one person wounded by bullet fragments, Mayor Smiley said at a late-night news conference. Brown University Health reported that seven of the injured were listed in critical condition.
Brown University President Christina Paxson told reporters that all or nearly all of the victims were students. It remained unclear how many of the wounded were inside the classroom at the time of the shooting.
Massive Manhunt Launched as Suspect Escapes
The gunman escaped on foot and remained at large hours after the shooting. Providence Deputy Police Chief Timothy O’Hara said authorities had not identified the suspect. According to witness accounts cited by Associated Press, the suspect is believed to be a male possibly in his 30s, dressed in black, and may have been wearing a camouflage gray mask.
Police said they recovered shell casings from the scene but were not prepared to release further details. A video showing the suspect leaving the scene was expected to be released, though officials said the person’s face is not visible.
Law enforcement agencies including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives joined local police in the search.
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City on Edge as Campus and Neighborhood Locked Down
Much of Providence remained on edge for hours following the shooting. Streets around Brown University were barricaded with police vehicles and yellow crime tape, while armored officers searched alleys, parked cars and buildings.
More than 400 law enforcement personnel were deployed. Helicopters circled overhead as roads were blocked and emergency vehicles crowded the area. While an official shelter-in-place order applied primarily to Brown’s campus and surrounding neighborhoods, many restaurants and businesses across the city closed early.
Mayor Smiley said there was no reason to believe there was an ongoing threat beyond the campus area.
Students Describe Hours of Fear and Confusion
Students across campus sheltered in place for hours, many hiding in dormitories, classrooms and basements. Chiang-Heng Chien, a doctoral student, told local media he was working in an engineering lab when he received an alert warning of an active shooter.
“We closed the door, had the lights off, and went under desks,” he said. Chien and others remained hidden for nearly two hours before police escorted them out, leaving them in freezing conditions without coats or belongings.
Nearby businesses also became refuge points. Michelle Cheng, owner of Ceremony Tea, said she helped arrange lodging for stranded students as the lockdown continued.
Conflicting Alerts and Online Misinformation Complicate Response
University officials acknowledged that at least two incorrect alerts were sent to students and faculty, including one stating that a suspect had been taken into custody before later being reversed. Another alert incorrectly reported additional gunfire near Governor Street.
Social media further fueled confusion. Unverified videos circulated online showing police evacuations, while false claims—including a premature statement by former US President Donald Trump suggesting the suspect had been apprehended—were later corrected.
Authorities urged the public to rely only on verified information from official sources.
Leaders React as Investigation Continues
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee called the incident “an unthinkable nightmare” and vowed the suspect would be brought to justice. “We’re going to make sure that we catch the individual that brought so much suffering to so many people,” he said.
President Trump, speaking at the White House, said he had been briefed on the shooting and described it as “terrible,” adding that prayers were with the victims and their families, according to AP.
A Campus and City Waiting for Answers
The shooting occurred on the eastern edge of Brown University’s campus, an area typically bustling with students, restaurants and coffee shops. Instead, streets stood nearly empty as residents waited behind locked doors and police continued their search late into the night.
Officials said surveillance footage was being reviewed and urged anyone with information to come forward, noting that even recognizing the suspect’s gait could be helpful.
A Community Shaken, a Search Unfinished
As Providence slowly reopens and Brown University grapples with the aftermath, the search for the gunman remains unfinished. For students preparing for finals, the ordinary pressures of academic life were abruptly replaced by fear, uncertainty and loss. Authorities continue to investigate with federal assistance, stressing that verified facts—not speculation—must guide public understanding.
While officials say there is no broader threat, the impact of the shooting has left a deep scar on the campus community. For now, families mourn, students recover, and a city waits for justice to be delivered.
Spiritual Reflection: Why True Knowledge of God Matters Today
Incidents like this force society to reflect deeply on the absence of fear of God and moral accountability. When individuals lose belief in the Supreme Power, they become fearless of sin and consequence, ready to commit even the gravest acts. However, when a soul receives true spiritual knowledge, it clearly understands the difference between sin and virtue, and knows that every action has to be endured through karmic consequences.
This inner awareness creates restraint, compassion, and responsibility. Therefore, taking refuge in a Tatvdarshi Saint is extremely essential, as only True Knowledge connects a human being with God and restores moral balance, guiding society away from violence and destruction.
- Website: www.jagatgururampalji.org
- YouTube: Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj
- Facebook: Spiritual Leader Saint Rampal Ji
- X: @SaintRampalJiM
FAQs on Brown University Shooting During Exams
1. What happened in the Brown University shooting?
A gunman opened fire during an exam review session at Brown University, killing two students and injuring nine others, officials confirmed.
2. Where did the Brown University shooting take place?
The shooting occurred inside a classroom on the first floor of the Barus & Holley engineering and physics building.
3. Is the Brown University shooting suspect arrested?
No. Police said the suspect escaped on foot and remains unidentified as an extensive manhunt continues.
4. How many people were injured in the Brown University shooting?
Nine people were injured, including one wounded by bullet fragments; seven of the injured were listed in critical condition.
5. What is the description of the Brown University shooting suspect?
Authorities described the suspect as a male, possibly in his 30s, dressed in black and possibly wearing a mask.
