There was a mass shooting at Brown University on Saturday afternoon during final exams, and the campus went into lockdown as police searched for the gunman. Two people were killed and multiple others were injured in the attack.
What occurred
A male suspect entered the Barus & Holley building, which houses Brown’s engineering and physics departments, on Saturday afternoon and opened fire in or near a first-floor classroom while exams were underway. Officials report that two individuals were killed and a total of around 10 to 11 others were injured, with several in critical but stable condition.
Timing and location
Emergency calls about the shooting came in a little after 4 p.m. local time, after which the university sent an alert instructing students and staff to shelter in place. The incident was confined to the Barus & Holley engineering building on the eastern side of campus in Providence, Rhode Island.
Campus lockdown and response
The university ordered a campus-wide lockdown and repeatedly told community members to lock doors, stay inside, and remain sheltered while law enforcement cleared buildings and searched for the suspect. Large numbers of police and emergency responders evacuated people from buildings within a security perimeter and moved some to safer locations like a campus fitness center.
Shooter status and investigation
As of the latest public updates, the shooter had fled the scene and had not yet been taken into custody, and authorities released a preliminary description of a male suspect dressed in black. Investigators are reviewing video and other evidence as a large manhunt continues in and around the campus area.
Impact on students and operations
Students reported hiding in classrooms, labs, libraries, and dorms for hours, many barricading doors and communicating mainly via text and social media during the lockdown. Brown has canceled at least some exams scheduled for Sunday and is expected to provide further updates on academics and support services as the situation develops.