Two people dead and eight others in critical condition
Two people have died and eight others are in a critical but stable condition in hospital, Providence mayor Brett Smiley said.
He added no suspect is in custody yet over the shooting.
Updated at 18.39 EST
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Emma Ferraro, a chemical engineering student, was in the engineering building’s lobby working on a final project when she heard loud pops coming from the east side, the Associated Press is reporting.
Once she realized they were gunshots, she darted for the door and ran to a nearby building where she was waited for a couple of hours.
Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren has said her “heart goes out to the victims,” of the shooting at Brown University.
Students should be able to learn in peace, not fear gun violence.”
The deadly shooting at Brown University is horrific. Students should be able to learn in peace, not fear gun violence. My heart goes out to the victims, their loved ones, and the entire Providence community.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) December 14, 2025
Republican Ted Cruz has said he is “praying for the students, faculty, and first responders on the scene and for the safety of everyone in the area.”
My team and I are closely monitoring the situation, and we are praying for the students, faculty, and first responders on the scene and for the safety of everyone in the area. https://t.co/2I3EMZtlkN
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) December 14, 2025
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer has said he is “heartbroken for those killed and injured by yet another horrific shooting.”
No student, professor, or any American should fear for their life when on campus. We must do more to stop this senseless gun violence.”
I am heartbroken for those killed and injured by yet another horrific shooting, this time at Brown University.
No student, professor, or any American should fear for their life when on campus. We must do more to stop this senseless gun violence. https://t.co/P7EyipFktN
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 14, 2025
Rhode Island governor Dan McKee has said “the unthinkable has happened”.
McKee said his office has been in touch with the White House.
Our capital city experienced an unthinkable tragedy today. Our hearts are with the people of Providence and all those impacted.
A shelter in place remains in effect for the greater @BrownUniversity area. We’re making every resource available as an active investigation continues.
— Governor Dan McKee (@GovDanMcKee) December 14, 2025
The university’s student newspaper, the Brown Daily Herald, is running a live blog to keep students updated on the events as they unfold.
Among the witnesses they have spoken to is Martyna Kaps, who was leaving a class when she heard “loud bangs” and saw students running from a room.
There were still people in the classroom … From what I heard, many of them dove behind the teacher’s desk and hid there to avoid the bullets.”
Katie Sun told the Herald she was studying in a nearby building when she heard gunfire. She ran to her dorm, leaving all her belongings behind.
It was honestly quite terrifying. The shots seemed like they were coming from…where the classrooms are.”
Donald Trump has told reporters that he had been briefed on the shooting and “all we can do right now is pray for the victims.”
“It’s a shame,” he said in brief remarks made outside the White House.
Donald Trump speaks to reporters outside the White House on Saturday night. Photograph: Samuel Corum/UPI/ShutterstockShare
Everytown for Gun Safety, which describes itself as the largest gun violence prevention organisation in the country, has said “today’s shooting at Brown University is another unacceptable reminder of our nation’s gun violence crisis. We either take action, or we bury more of our kids.”
Students on college campuses should be preparing for final exams and winter break — not enduring yet another all too familiar tragedy caused by gun violence.”
We’re starting to get more images into the newsroom now:
Law enforcement officials gather near Brown University on Saturday night. Photograph: Steven Senne/APAmbulances line Hope Street at Brown University. Photograph: Mark Stockwell/APEmergency personnel step out of a vehicle near Brown University. Photograph: Steven Senne/APEmergency personnel gather on Waterman Street at Brown University. Photograph: Mark Stockwell/APShare
We’re getting some more comments from local officials.
Brown University provost Frank Doyle said final exams were taking place in the engineering building when the shooter opened fire.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley asked for prayers for the families of the victims, noting the coming Christmas holiday. “It’s going to be a difficult rest of the day, difficult days and months ahead as this community heals,” he said.
Smiley declined to say whether the victims were students.
Edward Helmore
Laith Reader Frayn, 14, said he was in a barbershop opposite the engineering building when police and emergency vehicles arrived.
“A bunch of cop cars, a lot of ambulances and tactics teams showed up. I heard gunshots soon after they showed up. Then I saw two people carried out of the building on stretchers.
“The first person was unconscious and the other was awake. We sheltered in place for about an hour. Then I left with my dad. The situation was calm.
“There was no sign of a shooter other than the people that had been shot. We were mostly just shocked that this happened … the barbers said this had never happened before [at Brown].”
Updated at 18.58 EST
Police said no weapons were recovered from the scene and the last sighting of the suspect was him leaving the Hope Street side of the building on foot.
Updated at 18.53 EST
Suspect described as ‘male dressed in black’
Timothy O’Hara, a deputy police chief, told a press conference that the suspect is a “male dressed in black” who exited the complex at Brown University.
He said it is unknown how the suspect entered the engineering building.
Updated at 18.54 EST
Two people dead and eight others in critical condition
Two people have died and eight others are in a critical but stable condition in hospital, Providence mayor Brett Smiley said.
He added no suspect is in custody yet over the shooting.
Updated at 18.39 EST
Brown University has issued a statement confirming “multiple shooting victims”.
It said “we are not able to share their condition,” adding “they have been transported to local hospitals”.
The university said multiple exams were taking place in the Barus & Holley Engineering building in the afternoon.
Providence Council member John Goncalves, whose ward includes the Brown campus, said: “We’re still getting information about what’s going on, but we’re just telling people to lock their doors and to stay vigilant.
“As a Brown alum, someone who loves the Brown community and represents this area, I’m heartbroken. My heart goes out to all the family members and the folks who’ve been impacted.”
Share‘At least two dead and several others injured’ in shooting
At least two people have been killed and several others injured in the shooting, a law enforcement source told the Associated Press.
The incident is believed to be unfolding near an engineering building on the campus, according to the school’s alert system.
Kristy DosReis, the city of Providence’s chief public information officer for public safety, declined to provide details on the number of people injured or whether any were killed.
“There have been multiple people shot,” DosReis said.
“It continues to be an active investigation and we are urging people to shelter in place.”
Updated at 18.15 EST
At 16:22 local time (21:22 GMT) Brown University sent out an urgent alert, warning of an active shooter on campus and urging people to “lock doors, silence phones and stay hidden until further notice”.
It also said people should run, evacuate safely if they could, hide or as a last resort they should “fight”.
In his latest update posted on X a few minutes ago, the university said: “Urgent: Situation remains ongoing. Continue to shelter in place. Law enforcement on site. Visit http://brown.edu for updates.”
ShareTrump rows back statement about suspect in custody
Donald Trump initially said a suspect was in custody but later rowed that back.
He posted on Truth Social that the “FBI is on the scene” of the shooting at Brown University. “I have been briefed on the shooting that took place at Brown University in Rhode Island. The suspect is in custody. God bless the victims and the families of the victims!”
However, minutes later he wrote: “The Brown University Police reversed their previous statement — The suspect is NOT in custody.”
Updated at 18.12 EST
Several shot at Brown University
Multiple people have been shot in the area of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island on Saturday, police said.
The university in New England issued an active-shooter alert and urged students and staff to take shelter during the second day of final exams.
Police did not immediately release details about the victims’ conditions or the circumstances of the shooting.
Officials initially said a suspect was in custody but later said that police were still searching for a suspect or suspects.
Updated at 18.03 EST