Introduction to the Brown University Shooting
We are learning more about the person of interest taken into custody in connection with a deadly shooting on Brown University’s campus in Providence, Rhode Island. Authorities in Providence are investigating a person of interest after multiple people were shot and killed at Brown University Saturday afternoon. Information was initially conflicting after the shooting about if a suspect was in custody or not.
Brown University Shooting Suspect
The shooting was reported at 4:22 p.m. ET Saturday, Dec. 13. The Associated Press reported shortly after that the university was saying a suspect was in custody, but the university clarified at 5:11 p.m. ET that a suspect was not in custody. At 5:44 p.m. ET, President Donald Trump posted on social media that a suspect was in custody, but at 6:03 p.m. ET posted again to say the Brown University Police reversed their previous statement and said a suspect was not in custody.
Timeline of Events
Later on Saturday, during the first press briefing, Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley offered context about the conflicting report. "There was an individual who was preliminarily thought to be involved and was later determined to have no involvement, and that’s why we can confirm at this time, there is nobody in custody," he clarified, but didn’t provide any other details. Smiley said two people were killed and nine others were critically injured in the shooting.
Big Picture View
Here is the latest information released by authorities about the suspect:
On Sunday, 11:16 p.m. ET, officials in Providence say they will release a person of interest detained following a Brown University shooting that killed two students and injured nine. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and other officials made the disclosure at a hastily convened news conference on Sunday night, more than 12 hours after revealing that they had detained a person in connection with the attack.
Sunday Updates
On Sunday, 6 p.m. ET, the person of interest is a 24-year-old man from Wisconsin, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke anonymously to The Associated Press. On Sunday, 12:30 p.m. ET, Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez clarified during another press conference that the person detained was in his 20s, not 30s as earlier described. He and other officials did not give any further information about the investigation.
Initial Investigation
On Sunday, 7 a.m. ET, Col. Oscar Perez, the Providence police chief, said that the person in custody was in their 30s and that investigators were not searching for anyone else but that no one has been charged yet. He declined to say whether the detained person had any connection to Brown. The person was taken into custody at a Hampton Inn hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, about 20 miles from Providence.
Initial Press Briefing
On Saturday, 6:45 p.m. ET, officials in the active shooter situation at Brown University have released more information: two dead, eight in critical condition, a suspect not in custody described as a male wearing "black" who exited the campus in the Hope Street area. Smiley and other Providence officials provided limited information about the suspect in their first press briefing:
- Described suspect as a man dressed in black
- Don’t know how suspect got into the Barus & Holley engineering building
- Said he left the building on Hope Street, and are unsure where he went from there
- Authorities don’t have an image of the suspect at this time
- Authorities are working on getting video footage from the Hope Street area
- Authorities believe there is only one shooting suspect
Conclusion
The Brown University shooting is a tragic event that has left two people dead and nine others critically injured. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the motive behind the shooting. The person of interest, a 24-year-old man from Wisconsin, is currently being held in custody.
FAQs
Q: What happened at Brown University?
A: A shooting occurred on the campus of Brown University, resulting in two deaths and nine critical injuries.
Q: Is the suspect in custody?
A: Yes, a person of interest, a 24-year-old man from Wisconsin, is being held in custody.
Q: What is the motive behind the shooting?
A: The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not yet determined the motive behind the shooting.
Q: How many people were injured in the shooting?
A: Nine people were critically injured in the shooting.
Q: What is the current status of the investigation?
A: The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the motive behind the shooting and gather more information about the suspect.
