Brown University Shooting Leaves 2 Dead, 9 Hurt as Police Search Campus

A shooting in the Barus & Holley engineering building at Brown University on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, resulted in two fatalities and nine injuries, prompting an extensive police search that continued into Sunday morning.

Police Search Extends Into Sunday

Hundreds of officers scoured the Brown campus and surrounding neighborhoods, reviewing surveillance footage in an effort to locate the shooter. The search stretched well into Sunday morning, even as the campus remained largely empty.

Suspect Seen Leaving the Building

Surveillance video released by police shows a suspect, dressed in black, calmly walking away from the scene. His face is not visible, and investigators said it was not clear whether the suspect is a student. The suspect was last seen leaving the engineering building, and some witnesses told police the suspect, who could be in his 30s, may have been wearing a camouflage mask, according to Providence Police Deputy Chief Timothy O’Hara.

Impact on Campus Life

The shooting paralyzed the campus, the nearby neighborhoods filled with stately brick homes, and downtown Providence. Streets that are normally bustling on weekends were eerily quiet. Students sheltered in place for hours into the night. Officers in tactical gear led students out of some campus buildings and into a fitness center where they waited. Others arrived at the shelter on buses without jackets or any belongings.

Student Experiences

Emma Ferraro, a chemical engineering student, was in the building’s lobby working on a final project when she heard loud pops coming from the east side. Once she realized they were gunshots, she darted for the door and ran to a nearby building where she sheltered for several hours. Eva Erickson, a doctoral candidate and former “Survivor” contestant, left her lab 15 minutes before shots rang out and was locked down in the campus gym. Alex Bruce, a senior biochemistry student, was working on a final research project in his dorm directly across the street from the building when he heard sirens outside. He said, “I’m just in here shaking,” watching through the window as armed officers surrounded his dorm.

Witness Accounts

Chiangheng Chien, a doctoral student in engineering a block away from the scene, said that students in a nearby lab turned off the lights and hid under desks after receiving an alert about the shooting. Mari Camara, 20, a junior from New York City, was coming out of the library and rushed inside a taqueria to seek shelter. She spent more than three hours there, texting friends while police searched the campus. “Everyone is the same as me, shocked and terrified that something like this happened,” she said.

Building Details

The shooting occurred in the Barus & Holley building, a seven‑story complex that houses the School of Engineering and the 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 when the shooting occurred.

Hospital Response

Nine people with gunshot wounds were taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where one was in critical condition. Six required intensive care but were not getting worse, and two were stable, hospital spokesperson Kelly Brennan said. The wounded were treated for various injuries, with the critical patient receiving immediate care.

Mayor’s Statement

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said investigators were not immediately sure how the shooter got inside the first‑floor classroom. Outer doors of the building were unlocked, but rooms being used for final exams required badge access. He encouraged people living near the campus to stay inside or not return home until a shelter‑in‑place order was lifted. “The Brown community’s heart is breaking and Providence’s heart is breaking along with it,” Smiley said.

Governor’s Commitment

Democratic Gov. Dan McKee vowed that all resources were being deployed to catch the suspect. Rhode Island has some of the strictest gun laws in the U.S. Authorities believe the shooter used a handgun, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

University Statement

University President Christina Paxson said she was told 10 people who were shot were students. Another person was injured by fragments from the shooting but it was not clear if the victim was a student, she said.

FBI Involvement

Members of the FBI Evidence Response Team worked at the scene near a body, collecting evidence and marking the area with evidence markers at Brown University in Providence, R.I., Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, during the mass shooting.

Infographic Created in Ankara

An infographic titled “Shooting at Brown University” was created in Ankara, Turkiye on Dec. 14, 2025. The photo was taken by Mehmet Yaren Bozgun and released via Getty Images.

Key Takeaways

• Two people were killed and nine were wounded in the Brown University shooting.
• The suspect was last seen leaving the engineering building and may have worn a camouflage mask.
• Police, FBI, and local authorities are conducting a comprehensive search and have urged nearby residents to stay indoors.

The shooting has left the Providence community in shock, with students and faculty still processing the violence that unfolded during final exams. Authorities continue to investigate, and the university has implemented additional security measures to protect students and staff.