Brown University shooting: Two dead, eight injured, suspect at large

A deadly shooting at Brown University left two dead and eight injured, prompting a campus lockdown and FBI response

December 14, 2025

Gunman opens fire during exams, killing two; police hunt suspect

Eight injured in critical but stable condition, says mayor

At least two people were killed and eight others injured after a shooter dressed in black opened fire at Brown University in Rhode Island on Saturday, authorities said.

The shooting occurred inside the Barus & Holley building, which houses the university’s School of Engineering and physics department, while final examinations were underway. The suspect has not yet been apprehended.

According to Deputy Chief of Police Timothy O’Hara, the suspect is a male wearing dark clothing who was last seen exiting the engineering building following the attack. More than three hours after the incident, police officers continued searching campus buildings and nearby areas, including trash receptacles, the Associated Press reported.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said a shelter-in-place order was imposed in areas surrounding the campus and urged residents not to return home until authorities lift the advisory. He added that all available law enforcement resources had been deployed to locate the suspect.

The mayor said the eight injured victims are in critical but stable condition, but declined to confirm whether those affected were students.

Students described scenes of panic and fear following the alert. One student working in a dormitory across the street from the engineering building said he heard sirens and received a text warning of an active shooter. “I’m just in here shaking,” the student told the Associated Press.

Another student said those working in a nearby laboratory hid under desks and switched off the lights after receiving the emergency alert.

Trump, Vance react

President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the incident. “All we can do right now is pray for the victims,” Trump said during brief remarks at the White House.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the FBI was on the scene. He initially stated that the suspect was in custody before clarifying that the individual remained at large, citing university police.

Vice President JD Vance also reacted to the shooting, calling it “terrible news” and saying federal authorities were monitoring the situation closely. “We’re all thinking of and praying for the victims tonight,” he said in a post on X.

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