RI - Mass Shooting at Brown University - Providence 13 Dec 2025

[gregjrichards]

Watching local coverage here in Massachusetts.

Rhode Island hospital saying that 6 are critical/stable, one is critical, and one is stable.

Thank you for the updates @MassGuy they are greatly appreciated. I’m so sorry to hear about this horrific tragedy. Sincere condolences to the families of the deceased. I’m hoping and praying for all the victims who have been injured and hope they all survive. All the students, university staff and their families must be absolutely devastated, worried sick and heartbroken by what has happened.

 

[Herat]

Or a demented anarchist

Amateur opinion and speculation only

Agree!

As this happened on a Saturday, when you might not expect there would a lot of people in the Engineering Blg, I think this is someone very familiar with the curriculum and someone not doing well or removed from the school.

 

[Warwick1991]

Given the the geography and poor lighting, the police have a very difficult task ahead. I hope there's good surveillance video from the building. Perhaps someone will recognize him. I recall walking in the area at night, and the streets were so dark that other people walking were like shadows. It was difficult to recognize people until they came quite close.

Rhode Island has very good first responders in my experience, and I'm sure they study mass casualty incidents in other places carefully to learn from them. I am glad to hear that EMTs and firefighters entered the building promptly.

 

[Warwick1991]

Agree!

As this happened on a Saturday, when you might not expect there would a lot of people in the Engineering Blg, I think this is someone very familiar with the curriculum and someone not doing well or removed from the school.

In my experience, people from other areas do come into the neighborhood and may be familiar with the campus. An outsider could observe pedestrian movement into the building. But like you, I think there is a strong possibility that the perpetrator has ties to the university community.

 

[Dotta]

Agree!

As this happened on a Saturday, when you might not expect there would a lot of people in the Engineering Blg, I think this is someone very familiar with the curriculum and someone not doing well or removed from the school.

This surprised me.
I mean exams on Saturday.
Is it typical?
Or were these exams for students who are engaged in weekend courses?

In my country
part-time studies are weekend studies.
Classes are held on Saturdays and Sundays, and sometimes on Fridays,
as part of so-called "conventions,"
which are usually held every two weeks.

Such organization allows people to combine learning with professional work or other duties during the week.

JMO

 

[Inthedetails]

I lived in Rhode Island for much of my life, including the College Hill neighborhood where the shooting occurred. One thing about the neighborhood is that it is very suburban, with a lot of trees, dense shrubbery and buildings on large lots. Many of the streets are quite dark at night. Once the suspect fled on Hope Street, he could easily conceal himself on many of the dark side streets or heavily planted lots. He might have parked his car on a dark side street, and driven away. The main thoroughfare that abuts and cuts through the Brown campus is Thayer Street, where there are a lot of businesses and well lit areas. I believe that's where the ambulances are parked. I think the area provides a lot of opportunity for concealment, especially away from Thayer Street.

I have not been to the building for a long time, but Barus and Holley was a substantial building, and has multiple exits and entrances. It has been renovated since my last visit, and I don't know how it is configured today. All Brown University buildings had security arrangements, but I am not sure what they are like today.

I should also say that Rhode Island gun laws are more stringent than those of many US states. Private sales are effectively outlawed, and sales of firearms are also reviewed by local police. Permits to carry a firearms concealed are not readily issued, and involve stringent checks. It will be interesting to find out the identity of the shooter and how they obtained a firearm.

Thank. Local insight is always helpful.

Sorry this is happening to a place you know and love.

jmo

 

[Inthedetails]

Given the the geography and poor lighting, the police have a very difficult task ahead. I hope there's good surveillance video from the building. Perhaps someone will recognize him. I recall walking in the area at night, and the streets were so dark that other people walking were like shadows. It was difficult to recognize people until they came quite close.

Rhode Island has very good first responders in my experience, and I'm sure they study mass casualty incidents in other places carefully to learn from them. I am glad to hear that EMTs and firefighters entered the building promptly.

At the presser earlier, they mentioned they had recently conducted practice for emergency situations, with multiple agencies participating.

jmopinion

 

[Warwick1991]

This surprised me.
I mean exams on Saturday.
Is it typical?
Or were these exams for students who are engaged in weekend courses?

I don't think they have weekend courses. It is possible that some classes have to schedule the exams on a Saturday due to the number of exams going on before the winter recess.

 

[MassGuy]

I don't think they have weekend courses. It is possible that some classes have to schedule the exams on a Saturday due to the number of exams going on before the winter recess.

Yes. They include Saturdays to spread out the load, because they have an extended winter break.

There were 8 scheduled today, 5 in the morning and 3 at 2pm. They said that two exams were going on at the time, so one must have already ended by the time the shooting started at 4.

Final Exams

A period at the close of each semester is provided for final semester examinations for those courses for which such an examination is scheduled. Two examination periods are held each day.

registrar.brown.edu

 

[MassGuy]

Authorities believe the shooter used a handgun, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Police search Brown University after shooter kills 2 and wounds 8 on campus

Police say multiple people have been shot in the area of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

apnews.com

 

[Warwick1991]

Authorities believe the shooter used a handgun, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Police search Brown University after shooter kills 2 and wounds 8 on campus

Police say multiple people have been shot in the area of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

apnews.com

Given that the weather is cold, I would guess that a coat or jacket could easily conceal a handgun. A long gun would attract attention, and possibly an immediate response.

 

[MassGuy]

Given that the weather is cold, I would guess that a coat or jacket could easily conceal a handgun. A long gun would attract attention, and possibly an immediate response.

Yup. He’d likely be spotted arriving or departing if he had a long gun, so this isn’t a surprise to me.

Fits with the casualty count too.

 

[Dotta]

"Secret Service pledges support for Brown University after shooting leaves two dead.​

The US Secret Service will
'provide any and all support needed'
in Providence after the Brown University shooting, the agency's director Sean Curran said on X.

'We are saddened to learn of the senseless act of violence at Brown University',
he said.
'Prayers for the victims and all those impacted'.

Brown President addresses ‘deeply tragic' day after two killed in shooting.

Brown University President Christina Paxson called the shooting a
'deeply tragic day for Brown,
our families and our local community'.

She said in a university statement:

'There are truly no words that can express the deep sorrow we are feeling for the victims of the shooting that took place today at the Barus & Holley engineering and physics building'.

Paxson said that Brown’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) was working with law enforcement.

‘While DPS was at one point informed that there was an individual in custody,
that person was determined not to be the shooting suspect after questioning,’ she added."

Mom of Brown University student reveals text she received from son

Follow here for live updates over the active shooter at Brown University in Rhode Island.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Dotta]

"Mayor explains how shooter entered building at Brown University.​

Providence mayor Brett Smiley said
that the shooter had entered the engineering building
as an exam was taking place.

The doors were unlocked
and the suspect walked right in.

The suspect has been described as a man wearing black clothing
and is still at large,
according to officials.

Officials said at a press conference that the suspect fled out of an exit door
soon after opening fire
and had fled the scene by the time police swept the building."

Mom of Brown University student reveals text she received from son

Follow here for live updates over the active shooter at Brown University in Rhode Island.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[MassGuy]

Next presser at 930

 

[Inthedetails]

Authorities believe the shooter used a handgun, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Police search Brown University after shooter kills 2 and wounds 8 on campus

Police say multiple people have been shot in the area of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

apnews.com

That seems unusual in mass shootings, or not??

Does it indicate anything, like perhaps this was targeted at specific people. Or is that a stretch?

Thinking aloud....with no knowledge of guns.

jmo

 

[Stunned]

"Mayor explains how shooter entered building at Brown University.​

Providence mayor Brett Smiley said
that the shooter had entered the engineering building
as an exam was taking place.

The doors were unlocked
and the suspect walked right in.

The suspect has been described as a man wearing black clothing
and is still at large,
according to officials.

Officials said at a press conference that the suspect fled out of an exit door
soon after opening fire
and had fled the scene by the time police swept the building."

Mom of Brown University student reveals text she received from son

Follow here for live updates over the active shooter at Brown University in Rhode Island.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Where the only shots fired in that building?

 

[iamshadow21]

That seems unusual in mass shootings, or not??

Does it indicate anything, like perhaps this was targeted at specific people. Or is that a stretch?

Thinking aloud....with no knowledge of guns.

jmo

It may have been simply availability. It was said further upthread that Rhode Island has stricter gun laws than many parts of the US.

The other reason may be, as you said, that the person had a specific target or targets in mind, and knew that it would be easier to reach them unchallenged with a weapon he could conceal until he had done so.

MOO

 

[Warwick1991]

That seems unusual in mass shootings, or not??

Does it indicate anything, like perhaps this was target at specific people. Or is that a stretch?

Thinking aloud....with no knowledge of guns.

jmo

I think there have been other attacks that have involved handguns. One that comes to mind is the Virginia Tech shooter. He killed 32 people and wounded 17 others using 2 handguns. See: Virginia Tech shooting - Wikipedia
I think some shooters have used handguns because they are more concealable, and as @iamshadow21 noted, that could enable them to reach their target(s) unchallenged.

 

[Stunned]

It may have been simply availability. It was said further upthread that Rhode Island has stricter gun laws than many parts of the US.

The other reason may be, as you said, that the person had a specific target or targets in mind, and knew that it would be easier to reach them unchallenged with a weapon he could conceal until he had done so.

MOO

So maybe it's not a student. Maybe it's an ex boyfriend, ex girlfriend or someones stalker who knew where they'd be.