A gunman opened fire Saturday afternoon inside Brown University’s Barus & Holley engineering and physics building while students were gathered for final exams, killing two students and wounding nine others.
The shooting occurred around 4 p.m. ET in an economics class. Providence officials said police detained a man in his 20s Sunday as a person of interest. A source familiar with the investigation, who was not authorized to speak publicly, identified that person of interest as Benjamin Erickson. Authorities have not released further identifying information or a possible motive.
Brown University President Christina Paxson said seven victims were in “critical but stable” condition, one remained in critical condition, and a ninth victim was treated and released. The university announced it would cancel almost all remaining in-person exams for the fall semester to concentrate on care and community support.
Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley said the attack felt especially jarring for the city. Former President Donald Trump offered condolences to victims and families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez said investigators continue to work the case but were not actively searching for other suspects. FBI Director Kash Patel said on X that law enforcement detained the person of interest Sunday morning in a hotel room in Coventry, roughly 20 miles southwest of Brown, based on a lead from Providence police.
Investigators initially described the suspect as “a male dressed in black” who fled on foot; how the person gained entry to the building remained unclear. Brown Provost Francis Doyle noted that card access is required to enter the building but said exam periods likely produced heavy traffic, which may have affected security. Authorities released a short surveillance video showing a person of interest walking away from the scene, though the footage did not reveal the individual’s face.
A shelter-in-place order for the Brown campus and surrounding areas was lifted Sunday morning. University and city leaders have emphasized the need for counseling and support as investigations continue and the campus begins recovery efforts.