A mass shooting at a Brown University engineering building late Saturday afternoon left two people dead and several others wounded, triggering a campus-wide shelter-in-place order and a large-scale manhunt that continued into the evening.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed during a press conference shortly after 6:30 p.m. that at least two individuals were killed in the attack, with a minimum of eight others injured.
Those wounded were transported to Rhode Island Hospital, where officials said they were in critical but stable condition. Smiley noted that the number of victims could change as authorities continue to assess the situation and gather information.
The shooting occurred inside the Barus and Holley Engineering Building on Brook Street during the afternoon, as final exams were underway. Brown University Provost Francis J. Doyle III said students were taking exams inside the building between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. when the gunfire erupted.
BREAKING: Officials report 2 dead and 8 critically injured after mass shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island.
pic.twitter.com/Le5REwLfur— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 13, 2025
Officials have not confirmed whether the victims were Brown University students, faculty, or staff.
Providence Police Commander Tim O’Hara described the suspect as a male wearing black clothing. According to police, the suspect exited the building on the Hope Street side and walked away from the area. Authorities have not yet determined the type of firearm used in the attack.
Law enforcement officials said investigators are relying heavily on surveillance footage and witness accounts to identify and locate the suspect. As of early evening, police were still unsure of the suspect’s whereabouts.
“All I can give you right now is that we’re looking for a male dressed entirely in black,” O’Hara said during the briefing. “We are actively reviewing video evidence.”
Mayor Smiley confirmed that federal authorities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, are assisting local law enforcement with the investigation.
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee also addressed the public during the briefing, calling the incident “unthinkable” and expressing condolences to the victims and their families.
Providence Fire Chief Derek Silva said emergency crews were first notified of the shooting at approximately 4:05 p.m. Brown University issued its first emergency alert at 4:22 p.m., warning of an active shooter near the engineering complex and urging students and staff to shelter in place. The alert instructed people to lock doors, silence phones, remain hidden, and follow the “run, hide, fight” protocol if necessary.
Confusion followed as emergency updates evolved rapidly. At 4:51 p.m., an alert indicated that a suspect was in custody. However, that message was corrected about 20 minutes later, clarifying that no suspect had been detained and that the search was ongoing. Mayor Smiley later explained that an individual had been mistakenly linked to the incident.
Another alert at 5:27 p.m. reported shots fired near Governor Street, raising concerns of a possible second shooting. That update was later reversed at 6:10 p.m., with officials stating the report was unfounded.
The initial report that a suspect was in custody reached President Donald Trump, who posted on Truth Social at 5:44 p.m. that he had been briefed on the shooting and that the FBI was on the scene. He later corrected his statement after Brown University clarified that no suspect had been apprehended.
Brown University confirmed at 6:05 p.m. that there were multiple shooting victims, though the institution said it could not immediately share details about their conditions. The university emphasized that all victims had been transported to local hospitals for treatment.
Emergency responders from numerous surrounding communities, including Cranston, Warwick, Woonsocket, and others, assisted at the scene. By 6:17 p.m., mutual aid units were cleared to return to their home departments.
“This is a day that Providence and Rhode Island prayed would never come,” Smiley said. “We’ve seen these tragedies elsewhere, but never expected one here.”
Smiley added that he was at home nearby when he noticed an overwhelming police presence in his neighborhood, signaling the seriousness of the unfolding crisis.
