Authorities continue an intensive search for the suspect in the deadly shooting on Brown University’s campus that left two students dead and nine others wounded during a review session in the Barus & Holley building on December 13, law enforcement officials and media reports say.

The shooting and immediate response

Police say the shooting occurred at about 4:05 p.m. EST on December 13 in Room 166 of the Barus & Holley Building, where a review session for an introductory economics course was taking place; the instructor was not present, according to law enforcement and reporting on the incident.[1]

First responders and university officials described chaotic scenes as students fled and sheltered in place; campus and city law enforcement quickly secured the area, began treating the wounded, and launched a multiagency investigation that includes the Providence Police Department and the FBI.[1][2]

Victims

Two students were killed and nine others were wounded in the attack; all were Brown students as reported by police and corroborated by local and national outlets.[1][2]

Authorities have publicly identified at least two of the victims: a student leader affiliated with the university’s College Republicans and another student who had recently graduated high school and immigrated to the United States as a child, according to media reporting and official statements.[1]

What law enforcement has released about the suspect

Police released security footage and enhanced video clips showing an individual they describe as a person of interest; in the clearest images shared by authorities the person is seen wearing a dark-colored beanie or hood, a green jacket, black gloves and a face covering, according to the Providence Police Department’s public releases.[1][3]

Investigators recovered shell casings at the scene and say the firearm used was consistent with a 9mm handgun, according to official statements from police and the police chief’s briefings.[1]

The FBI announced a reward for information leading to the suspect’s identification and capture, and law enforcement canvassed the neighborhood for additional video footage from bystanders, doorbell cameras and business surveillance systems to trace the suspect’s movements before and after the shooting.[1][3]

Person of interest detained and released

In the days after the shooting, authorities detained a person of interest described by some law enforcement sources as a man in his mid-20s from Wisconsin; investigators recovered at least one firearm matching a witness description during that detention, according to reporting from national outlets citing law enforcement sources.[2]

Officials said the person of interest was released as investigators continued to review evidence and pursue additional leads while warrants and background checks proceeded, with authorities emphasizing the need for meticulous, evidence-based steps before any formal charges, according to reporting on the case.[2]

Ongoing investigative steps

Investigators have said they are conducting ballistic testing on recovered shell casings and firearms, tracing weapons, reviewing and enhancing surveillance footage, interviewing witnesses, and canvassing nearby properties for additional video footage, according to law enforcement briefings and media accounts.[2][3]

Officials also released multiple video clips showing the suspect’s route through nearby residential streets more than an hour before the shooting; the footage shows the individual running at times and walking at others as investigators piece together a timeline of movements leading up to the attack.[3]

Public appeals and campus security measures

Providence police and the FBI asked anyone with relevant footage to come forward and provided contact information for tips; a monetary reward has been offered to encourage public assistance in identifying the person shown in the videos and photographs released by police.[1]

Brown University officials temporarily increased campus security, cancelled or moved some finals-related activities, and provided counseling and support services to students while coordinating with law enforcement on the response and investigation, according to university statements and news reports.

What remains uncertain

As of the latest public reports, authorities had not announced an identified or arrested suspect connected by charges to the shooting; investigators cautioned the public that the investigation remains active and that early detentions or leads may change as forensic testing and additional evidence are developed.[1][2]

Officials have not publicly disclosed a confirmed motive, and investigators have said they are examining the suspect’s movements, digital records, possible connections to the victims or university, and any other evidence that could explain why the attack occurred, according to law enforcement briefings and media coverage.[2][3]

How the public can help

• Anyone with video, photos, or information relevant to the incident has been asked to contact the Providence Police Department or the FBI tip line, per official appeals from investigators.[1]
• Neighbors and businesses on and around College Hill have been urged to check doorbell and security footage for images of the suspect’s movements before and after the attack, according to police canvass efforts.[3]