Police Release CCTV Footage as Hunt Continues for Brown University Shooting Suspect
Police in the US state of Rhode Island have released CCTV images of a suspect as they continue searching for the gunman behind a deadly shooting at Brown University in Providence.
The attack took place on Saturday afternoon at around 4:00 pm local time, when a man opened fire inside a classroom at the university’s engineering complex while students were attending exams. Two students were killed and nine others were injured in the incident.
Following the shooting, Brown University was immediately placed under lockdown as local, state and federal law enforcement agencies launched a large-scale manhunt for the suspect, who remains at large.
Authorities have instructed students and residents in parts of the campus area to continue sheltering in place. Police say they are escorting people out of buildings in controlled groups to ensure safety.
Hospital officials confirmed that most of the injured victims are currently in critical but stable condition. The identities of those killed or wounded have not yet been released.
Brown University President Christina Paxson described the incident as devastating for the campus community, saying it was a tragedy the university had hoped would never happen.
Police have shared limited details about the suspect. CCTV footage shows a man dressed entirely in black leaving the building shortly after the shooting, though his face is not visible in the video. Investigators believe he may have been wearing a mask. The type of weapon used has not been confirmed and has not yet been recovered.
Providence Deputy Police Chief Tim O’Hara said officers are using all available resources to track down the suspect, with additional armed units deployed across the area.
The shooting occurred inside the Barus and Holley building, part of Brown University’s engineering school. The attack happened in a large first-floor classroom.
An economics professor told local media that the shooting took place during a review session led by a teaching assistant. According to the account, the shooter entered the room, shouted something unclear, and then began firing, causing students to scramble for cover as shots were fired.
Police cleared the building later in the day but did not locate the suspect or the weapon.
Residents living near the university have been advised to remain indoors until the emergency order is lifted. Local businesses around the campus temporarily shut their doors as police activity continued throughout the area.
University officials confirmed that exams scheduled for Saturday were cancelled in response to the incident.
US President Donald Trump called the shooting a “terrible thing” and expressed sympathy for the victims and their families. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee also issued a statement calling the incident an unthinkable tragedy for the state’s capital.
Brown University, an Ivy League institution founded in the 18th century, has more than 11,000 students and is located in Providence, roughly 50 miles from Boston.
According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, the incident adds to the growing number of mass shootings recorded in the United States this year.