PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A massive manhunt is underway following a deadly shooting at Brown University’s engineering complex that resulted in two student fatalities and nine injuries, sending shockwaves through the prestigious Ivy League institution and surrounding community.
According to Providence police, the assailant—described as a male dressed entirely in black clothing—initiated gunfire approximately at 16:00 local time on Saturday within the Holley Engineering Building. The seven-story academic facility, containing 117 laboratories and multiple lecture halls, was hosting final exam review sessions when the violence erupted.
An eyewitness account from Economics Professor Rachel Friedberg, whose teaching assistant was conducting a review, detailed the sudden chaos: “The shooter entered through the doors, uttered unclear words, and immediately began firing. Students scrambled for cover in the stadium-style seating, but several were struck during the panic.”
The attack prompted an immediate shelter-in-place order for campus and adjacent neighborhoods, with approximately 400 local and federal law enforcement personnel deployed to locate the suspect. Authorities have released closed-circuit footage showing an individual in black attire departing the scene, though no weapon is visible. The suspect’s face remains obscured, and investigators have not recovered the firearm used in the assault.
Providence Deputy Police Chief Tim O’Hara described the suspect as a male possibly in his 30s, potentially wearing a gray camouflage mask. One individual was briefly detained but later released after being cleared of involvement.
Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed all victims were students, expressing profound grief during a press briefing: “This is a day we hoped would never come to our community. The devastation we feel is immeasurable.”
Medical officials reported varying injury severity among the nine survivors: one in critical condition, six critically but stable, and two with less severe wounds. A ninth victim sustained non-gunshot injuries from fragmentation debris.
The incident marks the 389th mass shooting in the United States this year, as tracked by the Gun Violence Archive, which defines such events as incidents with four or more casualties excluding the perpetrator.
President Donald Trump addressed the tragedy upon returning to the White House, calling it “a terrible thing” and urging prayers for the victims.
As the manhunt continues, students and residents remain under shelter-in-place advisories, with many expressing intent to remain indoors until the suspect is apprehended.