Two people have been killed and several more critically injured in a shooting at Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island. Here’s what we know so far:
A shooter dressed in black killed at least two people and wounded nine others at Brown University during final exams on the Ivy League campus. Hours after the shooting the suspect remained at large.
Brown University president Christina Paxson confirmed that the two people killed were students. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said a shelter-in-place was in effect for the area and encouraged people living near the campus to stay inside and not to return home until it was lifted.
Eight people with gunshot wounds were taken to Rhode Island hospital, where six were in critical but stable condition, according to Kelly Brennan, a spokesperson for the hospital. A ninth person was later found to have been injured, but was reportedly not in a critical situation.
Police released footage of the man they suspected to be behind the shooting late on Saturday, adding that some witnesses reported that the man, who could be in his 30s, may have been wearing a camouflage mask. The shooting happened inside a classroom.
University officials initially told students and staff that a suspect was in custody, before later saying that was not the case and that police were still searching for a suspect or suspects. The mayor said a person preliminarily thought to be involved was detained but was later determined to have no involvement.
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.” Earlier he claimed a suspect was in custody before rowing back on that statement and confirming the shooter was still at large.
The shooting occurred in the Barus + Holley building, a seven-story complex that houses the School of Engineering and physics department. According to the university’s website, the building includes more than 100 laboratories, dozens of classrooms and offices. Brown, one of the America’s most prestigious colleges, has roughly 7,300 undergraduates and more than 3,000 graduate students.
