Police have initiated a manhunt following a tragic incident at Brown University in Rhode Island, where two individuals lost their lives and nine others were injured due to a shooting.
According to reports, the gunman started firing at an engineering building around 4 PM local time. At the time, students were engaged in an economics final exam review.
Currently, authorities are actively searching for the suspect who remains at large. Brown University and its surrounding areas continue to be under a shelter-in-place order.
The identities of the deceased have not yet been made public.
Nine additional victims sustained injuries in the attack and are being treated in the hospital. Authorities have described most of the injured as being in ‘critical but stable’ condition.
Police have released footage showing a suspect dressed in black fleeing the scene on foot.
Zoe Weissman, a sophomore at the university, who also survived the 2018 Parkland High School shooting in Florida, shared her feelings, saying the situation feels reminiscent of 2018.
In an interview with CNN, she expressed: “I’m just angry that there are kids like me in this country who have had to go through this not once, but twice.”
During the onset of the shooting, an alert was dispatched to thousands of students, warning them of the imminent threat. The alert stated: “There’s an active shooter near Barus and Holley Engineering. Lock doors, silence phones and stay hidden until further notice.”
President Donald Trump addressed the situation, sharing on social media: “God bless the victims and the families of the victims!”
Governor Dan McKee also released a statement, saying: “Our capital city experienced an unthinkable tragedy today. Our hearts are with the people of Providence and all those impacted.
He continued: “A shelter in place remains in effect for the greater @BrownUniversity area. We’re making every resource available as an active investigation continues.”
University President Christina Paxson provided an update on the victims, stating that six are in critical but stable condition, one is in stable condition, and another is in critical condition.
In a message to the university community, she wrote: “I want to thank every member of our community for every kindness, shoulder to lean on, and gesture of support that I know will come in the hours and days ahead as we work together as a community to be there for one another.”
This incident at Brown University marks the 389th mass shooting in the United States for the year 2025.