Two Dead, Eight Injured in Brown University Shooting: Campus on Lockdown as Suspect Remains at Large

Saturday's shooting occurred in the Barus & Holley building at Brown University.

New Delhi:

At least two people were killed and eight others were injured after a shooter dressed in black opened fire at Brown University, Rhode Island, United States, on Saturday, authorities said. The shooting happened as students were appearing for final exams in the university. The suspect is yet to be caught. Police officers were hunting through campus buildings and searching through trash cans more than three hours after the shooting erupted.

According to Deputy Chief of Police Timothy O'Hara, the suspect was a male in dark clothing who was last seen leaving an engineering building where the attack occurred. Mayor Brett Smiley stated that a shelter-in-place was in effect for the area and urged people living near the campus to stay inside and not to return home until the order is lifted.

BrownUAlert: 8th Update, The Brown campus continues to be in lockdown, and it is imperative that all members of our community remain sheltered in place. This means keeping all doors locked and ensuring no movement across campus. The law enforcement response remains ongoing.…

— Brown University (@BrownUniversity) December 14, 2025

Mayor Smiley confirmed that authorities had deployed all available resources to locate the suspect. He added that the eight injured individuals were in critical but stable condition. The mayor declined to comment on whether the victims were students.

"I'm Just In Here Shaking"

Saturday's shooting took place in the Barus & Holley building that houses the School of Engineering and the physics department. Engineering design exams were in progress when the suspect opened fire.

A student was working on a project in his dorm directly across the street from the building when he heard sirens outside and received a text about an active shooter. "I'm just in here shaking," the student told the Associated Press.

Another student, who was located some distance from the crime scene, reported that students in a lab near the Barus & Holley building hid under desks and turned off the lights after they received the alert about the shooting.

"Pray For The Victims": Trump

President Donald Trump was briefed about the shooting. In brief remarks at the White House, Trump said, "All we can do right now is pray for the victims."

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated, "I have been briefed on the shooting that took place at Brown University in Rhode Island. The FBI is on the scene." The president initially indicated that the suspect was in custody but later corrected this information, citing university police.

Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance said in a post on X, "Terrible news out of Rhode Island this evening. We're all monitoring the situation, and the FBI stands ready to do anything to help. We're all thinking of and praying for the victims tonight."