Brown University Shooting: Two Dead, Multiple Injured During Final Exams — Manhunt Underway (Providence, USA)

Brown University Shooting: Two Dead, Multiple Injured During Final Exams — Manhunt Underway (Providence, USA)

Providence, Rhode Island — 14 December 2025

A deadly mass shooting erupted on the campus of Brown University on Saturday afternoon, killing two people and injuring others during final exams, authorities confirmed as law enforcement continues a manhunt for the unidentified suspect. 

Shooting at Brown University Exam Building

The active shooter incident occurred at approximately 4:05 p.m. local time inside the Barus & Holley engineering building, where students were taking exams as part of the fall semester schedule. Officials say the suspect opened fire inside a crowded classroom before fleeing the scene on foot. 

Providence police described the individual they are searching for as a male dressed in black, and released a short video of him leaving the area. At this time, no suspect has been apprehended. 

Confirmed Casualties and Response

• 2 fatalities confirmed at the scene, both reported to be Brown University community members.  
• At least 8 others were wounded by gunfire and are being treated at Rhode Island Hospital, with several in critical but stable condition. Additional injuries reportedly stem from related chaos at the scene.  
• Early reports of 20 victims have not been confirmed by official authorities and remain unverified.  

Authorities immediately issued a campus-wide shelter-in-place order and locked down academic buildings and nearby streets. Hundreds of police officers, as well as federal agents from the FBI and ATF, are assisting in the ongoing search. 

Eyewitness Accounts and Campus Panic

Students and faculty described scenes of panic and confusion. Some hid under desks or in laboratories as campus alerts directed them to lock doors, silence phones, and remain hidden. Many were evacuated hours after the shooting as law enforcement cleared buildings one by one. 

Official Statements

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley expressed deep sorrow, calling the incident “a day that our community prayed would never come.” Authorities are urging anyone with information or footage to come forward to aid the investigation. 

Brown University President Christina Paxson stated that the university community is “devastated” and that support services are being provided for students, staff and families in the wake of the tragedy. 

National Impact and Broader Context

The tragedy at Brown — one of the United States’ most prestigious Ivy League universities — marks a rare but devastating campus shooting during a high-stakes exam period. The incident reignites ongoing debates over campus safety and gun violence in America. 

U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged the shooting in a brief statement, offering thoughts and prayers for the victims and emphasizing federal support for local law enforcement.