At least two people have been killed and eight others are in critical condition after a shooter opened fire on Brown University’s campus in Providence, Rhode Island Saturday afternoon.
Federal, state and local law enforcement officials are currently looking for the suspect, who remains at large more than two hours after the initial report of the shooting. The university has reported “multiple shooting victims” while students are barricading themselves in buildings using desks and tables.
Officials are looking for a male dressed in black. A shelter-in-place order remains in effect for Brown’s campus and surrounding neighborhood.
Providence officials have asked residents to shelter in place and reach out to the police with any information.
Students at the Ivy League university in Rhode Island received an emergency text message alerting them to a shooter near the Barus & Holley building near Hope Street around 4:20 p.m. The university is telling students to lock doors, silence phones and stay hidden until further notice, or run, hide or fight as a last resort.
President Donald Trump and other officials have been briefed on the shooting are monitoring it for updates. The FBI and ATF are currently on the scene.
Brown University student says he and cohort hid under their desks for approximately two hours during shootingChang-heng Chien, 32, a PhD student at Brown University, told the Providence Journal he was working in a lab with three other students when they received an alert from the school that an active shooting had occurred approximately a block from their location.
He said he and the others turned off the lights in the lab, locked the room’s door, and hid under their desks for approximately two hours until they heard police outside the room.
They allowed the police to enter and were evacuated safely from the university building.
Graig Graziosi14 December 2025 00:33
Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, a survivor of gun violence, issues statement on Brown shooting“My heart breaks for Brown University. I’m grateful for the first responders on the scene and am praying for the victims, survivors, and their families,” former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords said. “Students should only have to worry about studying for finals right now, not hiding from gunfire. Guns are the leading cause of death for young people in America – this is a five alarm fire and our leaders in Washington have ignored it for too long. Americans are tired of waiting around for Congress to decide that protecting kids matters.”
Gifford, who formerly represented Arizona in the U.S. Congress from 2006-2012, was shot in the head on January 8, 2011. Six people were killed in the shooting incident and 12, including the congresswoman, were injured.
She has since been an outspoken advocate against gun violence.
Graig Graziosi14 December 2025 00:28
Providence police are “confident” there is only one suspectProvidence Police Commander Tim O’Hara said he is “confident” based on the information he has that only one suspect was involved in the mass shooting at Brown University on Saturday night.
The suspect is still at large, and was described as a male wearing black clothes.
Graig Graziosi14 December 2025 00:20
New England Patriots “heartbroken” by shooting at BrownThe New England Patriots issued a statement in the wake of the shooting at Brown University:
Graig Graziosi14 December 2025 00:19
Police ask residents to review doorbell, security cameras for signs of shooting suspectProvidence Police Commander Tim O’Hara asked individuals living in the vicinity of Brown University to check any exterior-facing cameras at their homes for any signs of a fleeing suspect.
He said the suspect is a male who was wearing black. No further information is available about the suspect at this time.
A shelter in place order is in effect for the area around the university.
Graig Graziosi14 December 2025 00:10
East Providence mayor says local law enforcement held active shooter drill 18 months agoEast Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva said local law enforcement held an active shooting drill in a closed school 18 months ago.
“The city of Providence conducted an active shooter drill, a live drill at a closed school about 18 months ago with not just police but fire emergency management and the other various departments and city government that are responding,” DaSilva said.
“This is a sad state of our country right now where you have to plan for these things,” he sadded.
Graig Graziosi14 December 2025 00:05
Vice President JD Vance comments on the shooting at Brown UniversityVice President JD Vance comments on the shooting at Brown University:
“Terrible news out of Rhode Island this evening. We’re all monitoring the situation and the FBI stands ready to do anything to help,” Vance said. “We’re all thinking of and praying for the victims tonight.”
Graig Graziosi14 December 2025 00:02
Police Commander Tim O’Hara said suspect exited university building on footProvidence Police Commander Tim O’Hara told reporters on Friday night that the suspect in the Brown University mass shooting exited the building on foot.
Police are still searching for the suspect, who is described as a male wearing black.
O’Hara said he is working with the FBI and other law enforcement to obtain video footage from the surrounding area in hopes of capturing images of the shooter.
Graig Graziosi13 December 2025 23:57
Firearm used in shooting has not been recovered Local officials said no weapon has been recovered from the shooting.
Law enforcement said they were not sure what type of firearm was used.
Ariana Baio13 December 2025 23:49
Trump calls shooting ‘a terrible thing’ President Donald Trump returned to the White House Saturday evening and called the shooting “a terrible thing.”
“All we can do right now is pray for the victims,” Trump told reporters.
Ariana Baio13 December 2025 23:48
