Brown University Shooting Person of Interest Released as Manhunt Continues

Brown University is one of the eight Ivy League universities in America and is based in Providence, in the state of Rhode Island. Brown University was founded in 1764, and with an open curriculum and a research culture, people from all over are drawn to this prestigious institution. The School of Engineering of this institution and the Physics Department are based in the Barus & Holley Hall, where a shooting took place.

The Incident - Timeline & Updates

Witnesses reported hearing shots being fired inside the Barus & Holley building on Saturday, 13 December 2025, by a man in black clothes armed with a gun, when students were taking their final exams. Two students were killed, and nine were critically injured.

As stated by Frank Doyle, the Brown University provost, the gunman went into the building at a time when students were engaged in writing exams. A "shelter in place" warning message went out to students and faculty as police started searching classrooms and other locations. Alerts concerning the lockdown on the Brown University campus indicated that notifications had gone out to students; temporarily, lockdown situations were observed even at the Rhode Island Hospital.

The authorities took a person of interest into custody, but he was identified to be a 24-year-old named Benjamin Erickson. Yet, he was released without charges since a direct connection with the shooting did not exist. The incident can be read with this news update: Brown University shooting person of interest released update.

US President Donald Trump offered his condolences, saying that the tragedy would not be forgotten and that thoughts and prayers were with all those affected. He had earlier made an incorrect statement on Truth Social, claiming that a suspect was in custody, but later corrected this. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley announced that the injured were in critical but stable condition, although it was still uncertain whether all of them were students. "This is simply the unthinkable happening," stated Dan McKee, Governor of Rhode Island. His office is working with the White House on this matter. The investigation into this shooting is being conducted by the FBI and police in Providence. They are scanning the area for extra suspects.

Effect on Students and Campus Safety

The students were left traumatised by the shooting incident on the campus. Students were preparing for their final exams when this shooting occurred on the Ivy League campus. Shelter-in-place notices, lockdowns, and emergency messages marred these programs.

The recent developments about the fatal shooting incident at Brown University have brought forth concerns among experts with regards to issues surrounding gun violence in educational institutions in the USA. Students are now raising questions about the safety offered by such institutions, and educational institutions are being pressed to improve safety standards.

Wider Context – Global and National Trends

The shooting at a university in Providence, Rhode Island, adds to a growing list of shootings at US colleges in 2025, and this sends an alarm because of how vulnerable colleges and universities actually are. Analysts have noted that Brown University may have a very good reputation when it comes to educational prestige, but incidents such as these show that reputation is not an option when it comes to safety.

The correlations made with other developing international destinations for students will be where safety and cost will increasingly become a rationale for students to travel internationally for their education. The analysis of college safety and gun violence on campuses represents the trade-off colleges must address when considering excellence in education and a sound safety structure.

The authorities are yet to find the gunman despite the release of a person of interest in custody, identified as Brown. The authorities have released footage of a man completely dressed in black walking in the area of Hope Street, thought to be linked to the attack. The manner in which Brown University handled matters concerning campus safety in light of the shooting incident and manhunt remains in progress. The support from the community has been excellent, with Rhode Island Hospital collaborating with these families and Brown University offering counselling support. The response of both students and staff at Brown University after the shooting incident portrays resilience.

Conclusion

The case summary of the Brown University shooting incident in 2025 reveals a tragic situation which has shaken an Ivy League college, with two people killed, nine injured, and the person of interest let go without charge. The case summary of the Brown University lockdown and manhunt on campus provided insight into the level of risk presented to students. The context of international mobility and recruitment of students takes a different path in light of safety issues on US college campuses. The above case highlights how future policies in securing campuses have to come into action quickly. Institutions of higher learning have no time to relax but have to ensure students are safe and protected in this new environment, where gun violence and global competition in higher education have placed a high premium on an increased threat level.

Editor’s Note:

The 2025 Mass Shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, quickly spread alarm in the educational circles and soon echoed with grave concerns over safety on campuses. At least two people were killed and others critically injured when a gunman went on a shooting spree in the Barus & Holley building during final exams. One person of interest has been identified and arrested, but this information affects, rather than alleviates, uncertainty. The police are searching for the identified individual, while students and faculty attempt to cope with this traumatic event. The Brown University shooting person of interest released update is a reminder of how complicated a case such as this can be and how important it is to have honest communication during a crisis. This is not a localised incident but a part of a larger trend of shootings in US college campuses in 2025, which highlights how vulnerable college campuses are to shootings. The impact of a shooting incident on college students is severe-it disrupts education and wounds students emotionally for a lifetime. The events following an investigation into the FBI and Providence police shooting have generated responses marked by resilience. The coordination of hospitals, university staff, and local governing bodies in this matter has been continued in order to assist the affected. However, such unfortunate events ought to remind us of the significance of reactions to safety on campuses concerning the Brown University Shooting and the Manhunt Progress.

Skoobuzz believes that this tragic event serves as a reminder of the fact that campuses cannot be disentangled from social issues. As evident from the brief introduction of the Brown University shooting incident in 2025, it takes but a moment for an institution of learning to become an institution of tragedy. As the future unfolds, campuses have to improve their security, become transparent in communication, and make students feel safe if institutions of higher learning are to continue succeeding in an environment where safety and trust have equal priority with education.

FAQS

1.What happened in the Brown University shooting in 2025?

In December 2025, a gunman opened fire inside the Barus & Holley building at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, during final exams. At least two people were killed, and several others were critically injured. The campus went into lockdown while police and the FBI searched for the suspect.

2.Why was the person of interest in the Brown University shooting released?

Police detained a person of interest soon after the attack, but later released him because investigators found no evidence linking him directly to the shooting. This shows that he was questioned but not charged.

3.How many people were killed and injured in the Brown University shooting?

Reports confirmed that two people died and nine others were injured, with several in critical condition.

4.Is there still a suspect at large in the Brown University shooting?

Yes. The gunman remains at large, and investigators are continuing the search. Police have reviewed CCTV footage and are following leads to trace the suspect.

5.What does “person of interest released without charges” mean in this case?

It means that someone was detained because police thought they might be involved. After questioning and checking evidence, they were found not to be connected to the crime. As a result, they were released, and no charges were filed against them.