2 killed, 9 hurt in Brown University shooting; video of suspected shooter released amid manhunt
A shelter-in-place order remains in effect for the greater Brown University area, officials said on Saturday night.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A massive manhunt is underway after a shooting left two people dead and nine others injured at a Brown University building on Saturday afternoon, officials in Providence, Rhode Island said.
The shooting, which happened at Barus & Holley, the school's engineering and physics building, was first reported at 4:05 p.m. local time, Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley said during a Saturday afternoon press conference.
An official briefed on the investigation told ABC News that preliminary information indicates that the shooting occurred in a classroom where a study group was taking place.
One of those injured is in critical condition, while six others are in critical but stable condition. Two other people are in stable condition, including one with non-life-threatening injuries.
Officials say it is unclear how the suspect entered the building, but investigators have learned that the outer doors of the building were unlocked due to exams.
He exited the building on the Hope Street side of the complex.
Providence police released surveillance video on Saturday evening, showing who they call a person of interest leaving 184 Hope Street and walking toward the water. He is wearing dark clothing, and his face is not visible.
Smiley said Saturday night that the person in that video is believed to be the shooter.
Some of the witnesses have told police that the suspect may have been wearing a camouflage mask, but that information is unconfirmed, officials said. The suspect could be in his 30s, but his exact age is still unclear.
The university said they are working to determine who was in the building when the gunfire broke out.
Smiley said no one is in custody, and a shelter-in-place order is in effect for the greater Brown University area. Rhode Island Hospital is on lockdown but is still accepting emergency department patients.
Smiley said there is no timeline for when the order might end.
Officials said anyone can send photos to the FBI at fbi.gov/brownuniversityshooting.
After the gunfire broke out, the school sent its first BrownUAlert message about the active shooter situation to the campus community around 4:20 p.m., telling students to shelter in place or avoid the area.
The alert directed students to "Lock doors, silence phones and stay stay hidden until further notice. Remember: RUN, if you are in the affected location, evacuate safely if you can; HIDE, if evacuation is not possible, take cover; FIGHT, as a last resort, take action to protect yourself. Stay tuned for further safety information."
School officials, in another alert, and President Donald Trump, in a social media post, initially said a suspect was in custody, but later clarified that no one is in custody.
During a Saturday evening press conference, officials said there was an individual who was preliminarily thought to have been involved in the incident, but that person was later determined not to be involved.
A statement from the university also clarified that a report of another shooting near Governor Street was unfounded.
The gunshot victims' identities were not immediately known. Officials did not immediately say whether they are students at the school.
Smiley added that the number of victims may change as officials gather more information. Earlier Saturday, one official said first responders were searching for any possible additional victims.
Officials said shell casings have been recovered, but they have not found any weapons. They could not say what kind of firearm was used in the attack.
Brown University police said there was no known threat before the shooting.
A family reunification center has been set up, Smiley said.
The university's president, Christina H. Paxson, sent a message to all students and faculty informing them about the details of the shooting and offering support.
"We know our community wants answers, and we will provide them as soon as we can. For now, please know we are doing all we can to keep our community safe and have mobilized support for the students and their families," she wrote.
Speaking to reporters at the White House after the Army-Navy game, Trump said he has been "fully briefed" on the Brown University shooting, calling it a "terrible thing" and emphasizing the need to "pray for the victims," whom he says "were very badly hurt, it looks like."
"I've been fully briefed on the Brown University situation. What a terrible thing it is, and all we can do right now is pray for the victims and for those that were very badly hurt, it looks like," Trump told reporters after de-boarding Marine One. "And we'll inform you later as to what's happening, but it's a shame. Just pray. Thank you."
The president did not have any further remarks and did not take questions before entering the White House.
Vice President JD Vance issued a statement to X, saying, "Terrible news out of Rhode Island this evening. We're all monitoring the situation and the FBI stands ready to do anything to help. We're all thinking of and praying for the victims tonight."
ABC News contributed to this report.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
