Key Takeaways
- A shooting occurred during final exams at Brown University, resulting in the deaths of two students and wounding nine others.
- A 24-year-old person of interest from Wisconsin is in custody, but has not been charged and authorities have not released information about a potential motive.
- The shooting happened in a classroom in the engineering building, with the gunman firing more than 40 rounds from a 9 mm handgun.
- The university has canceled all remaining classes, exams, papers, and projects for the semester, and students have been told they can leave campus.
- The community has come together to remember the victims, with a gathering at a park to honor them.
Introduction to the Incident
A person of interest was taken into custody on Sunday after a shooting during final exams at Brown University, which killed two students and wounded nine others. The attack, which occurred on Saturday afternoon, set off hours of chaos across the Ivy League campus and surrounding Providence neighborhoods. Hundreds of officers searched for the shooter and urged students and staff to shelter in place, with the lockdown stretching into the night before being lifted early Sunday. Despite the person of interest being in custody, key questions remained unanswered, including the potential motive behind the attack.
Details of the Shooting
The shooting occurred during one of the busiest moments of the academic calendar, as final exams were underway. The gunman opened fire inside a classroom in the engineering building, firing more than 40 rounds from a 9 mm handgun. Two handguns were recovered when the person of interest was taken into custody, along with two loaded 30-round magazines. One of the firearms was equipped with a laser sight that projects a dot to aid in targeting. The person of interest, a 24-year-old man from Wisconsin, was taken into custody at a Hampton Inn hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, about 20 miles from Providence.
Response to the Shooting
University President Christina Paxson teared up while describing her conversations with students both on campus and in the hospital. Many students remained barricaded in rooms while others hid behind furniture and bookshelves during the lockdown. One video showed students in a library shaking and wincing as they heard loud bangs just before police entered the room to clear the building. The community has come together to remember the victims, with a gathering at a park to honor them. Mayor Brett Smiley said he visited some wounded students and was inspired by their courage, hope, and gratitude.
Investigation into the Shooting
Investigators were not immediately sure how the shooter got inside the first-floor classroom at the Barus & Holley building, a seven-story complex that houses the School of Engineering and physics department. The building includes more than 100 laboratories, dozens of classrooms, and offices, according to the university’s website. Engineering design exams were underway at the time of the shooting, and outer doors of the building were unlocked, but rooms being used for final exams required badge access. Surveillance video released by police showed a suspect, dressed in black, walking from the scene.
Community Reaction
The shooting has had a significant impact on the community, with many students and staff affected by the tragedy. Brown senior biochemistry student Alex Bruce was working on a final research project in his dorm across the street from the building when he heard sirens outside. He said he was shaking as he watched through the window as officers surrounded his dorm. The university has canceled all remaining classes, exams, papers, and projects for the semester, and students have been told they can leave campus. The community has come together to support the victims and their families, with many offering their condolences and support.
University Response
Brown University has responded to the shooting by canceling all remaining classes, exams, papers, and projects for the semester. The university has also told students they can leave campus, underscoring the scale of the disruption and the gravity of the attack. University President Christina Paxson said that the university is committed to supporting the victims and their families, and that the university is working to provide counseling and other resources to students and staff affected by the tragedy. The university has also said that it will conduct a thorough review of the incident to determine what happened and how to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Conclusion
The shooting at Brown University has had a devastating impact on the community, resulting in the deaths of two students and wounding nine others. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and authorities have not yet released information about a potential motive. The community has come together to remember the victims and support the survivors, with many offering their condolences and support. The university has responded to the shooting by canceling all remaining classes, exams, papers, and projects for the semester, and has committed to providing counseling and other resources to students and staff affected by the tragedy.
