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

[Warwick1991]

Yes, it sounds like this video is from a distance, and does not show his face. Only people who know this person would be able to identify him from the video, by the sounds of it.

I can't think of a mass shooting where the suspect got away like this. It's almost always over quickly by suicide, police shooting. them, or capture.

It's a bit reminiscent of the Boston Bombing, although those guys had a much more reasonable chance of escape than this guy did.

My sense is that he's gone home, and is no longer a threat. They can't take that chance though.

I think the reason he's eluded police is the amount of cover available in the area. It is dark, poorly lit, with a lot of trees and mature, tall, shrubbery. There are a lot of historic homes on large lots, with outbuildings, a lot of trees and extensive shrubbery. The low lighting has been the preferred option, to preserve the historic ambience of the neighborhood. Once the shooter is out of the university building, and away from Thayer Street, it would be exceptionally difficult to find him. There are lots of places to hide. He could have parked a car a few blocks away, and be long gone.

When I lived in the area, there was a lot of crime, especially burglary. There were also occasional muggings. The area is affluent, and this has attracted criminal activity - mainly opportunistic crime. The dark streets contributed to the problem.

 

[MassGuy]

I think the reason he's eluded police is the amount of cover available in the area. It is dark, poorly lit, with a lot of trees and mature, tall, shrubbery. There are a lot of historic homes on large lots, with outbuildings, a lot of trees and extensive shrubbery. The low lighting has been the preferred option, to preserve the historic ambience of the neighborhood. Once the shooter is out of the university building, and away from Thayer Street, it would be exceptionally difficult to find him. There are lots of places to hide. He could have parked a car a few blocks away, and be long gone.

When I lived in the area, there was a lot of crime, especially burglary. There were also occasional muggings. The area is affluent, and this has attracted criminal activity - mainly opportunistic crime. The dark streets contributed to the problem.

Part of this will be people remember passing or seeing someone who resembles this guy. That will hopefully direct them to further video faster.

It's cold so the clothing itself isn't unusual, but the all black is.

 

[MassGuy]

Holding another presser now. Before CNN randomly changed to a commercial for the nutcracker, the mayor was talking about the shelter in place remaining in effect for the time being. It's been helpful to the investigation for reasons that I'll find out when CNN fixes itself.

 

[thewhitesheep]

Do big universities and colleges have ID swipe access to academic buildings? All the time or just in evening/weekend hours? It's been a billion years since I was in college, so I have no idea what modern practices are. I'm not saying they should or shouldn't--clearly during busy daytime hours that would be hard to enforce for classroom buildings because of the high traffic through th entrance doors (easier to enforce for labs/offices within buildings).

Only after a certain time and it depends on the building.

For example, a building largely made up of chemistry and medical labs will be locked fairly early in the evening. Food hall, maybe midnight (depending on how late dinner is available). You might be able to get into the lobby of a dorm, but different floors will be accessible by key or card (or both). If a school has a 'main' or 'union' building, it might be open all day/night (mine was), especially during testing periods.

 

[Warwick1991]

Part of this will be people remember passing or seeing someone who resembles this guy. That will hopefully direct them to further video faster.

It's cold so the clothing itself isn't unusual, but the all black is.

I think if the shooter was seen on Thayer Street, perhaps he'd be remembered. But once he was on a side street, the low lighting level would probably make the color of his clothing imperceptible. I can recall taking evening walks and encountering friends, but I didn't realize who they were until they were very close, maybe lit up by a passing headlight or a street lamp.

 

[Stunned]

These guys are ALWAYS captured.

It’s just a matter of when.

Ballistics, possibly dna from casings, surveillance footage, someone who has a known grudge, etc.

You cannot commit a crime like this and get away with it. I remember saying the same about Luigi Mangione.

This one should be easier I think, because it’s just got to be targeted and he must be connected in some way.

Someone in that classroom knows or knew him.

 

[whitelilac]

If this guy parked his car somewhere, and returned to it, I'd hope that police would request footage from any streets in the neighborhood, to check whether a black clad person got into a car in the time frame. I know, time consuming and perhaps a long shot.

 

[marloweclover]

I go to buildings on a mid-sized state university campus regularly for work. I can get into the lobby areas of everything but dorms during business hours without a card. Most change to only card access in the evening -- exceptions are the gym, campus safety, the main library, and the student center. All dorms require a card at all times. Some buildings require either a card or being checked in by the front desk to get past the lobby (gym, for example). Some buildings allow daytime entry into the lobby and hallways, but entry to specific spaces like labs, large classrooms and auditoriums, music practice rooms, etc requires a card. JME.

 

[Lisbeth_S]

I think the reason he's eluded police is the amount of cover available in the area. It is dark, poorly lit, with a lot of trees and mature, tall, shrubbery. There are a lot of historic homes on large lots, with outbuildings, a lot of trees and extensive shrubbery. The low lighting has been the preferred option, to preserve the historic ambience of the neighborhood. Once the shooter is out of the university building, and away from Thayer Street, it would be exceptionally difficult to find him. There are lots of places to hide. He could have parked a car a few blocks away, and be long gone.

When I lived in the area, there was a lot of crime, especially burglary. There were also occasional muggings. The area is affluent, and this has attracted criminal activity - mainly opportunistic crime. The dark streets contributed to the problem.

Surely there are a lot of cameras around? Do you know if that's the case?
With the affluent neighbourhood and the uni I would expect high density of surveillance.

Ideally they would be able to follow the path he's taken to his getaway vehicle (if any).

 jmo

 

[TexLil]

This person has very specific gait.
And seems overweight.

Well, to my eyes.

Agree... And if I dare say it appears he has a distinctive body type where he has a larger, rounder behind than most men and shortish legs. I hope the right person sees this... There's enough uniqueness to be recognizable. MOO

 

[iamshadow21]

Someone in that classroom knows or knew him.

That person may be one of the deceased, however. If the shooter had a specific target, I imagine they were shot first.

MOO

 

[MassGuy]

From what I can gather, the campus has over 800 security cameras. There are actually several articles in which students voice displeasure at having that many, likening it to a "police state."

Bodes well for them finding something, although those cameras are certainly not the only ones they'll be canvassing.

 

[thx4_medic_Babby]

Looks like the video footage has the suspect walking on Hope St and turning right onto Waterman St (if my Google map skills aren’t letting me down).

This area is about a 6 minute walk from Brown University.

 

[Warwick1991]

I don't think the fact that the shooter hasn't been caught is the fault of local first responders. I think they have done well so far, with a quick response and evacuation of the wounded.

I think any law enforcement organization would have a real challenge in this environment. The neighborhood is part of a city, with nearby highways. The area can't effectively be sealed off. It's dark and provides numerous places to hide, and a perpetrator can drive away and have a short trip to highways that can get them to Connecticut or Massachusetts.

 

[Stunned]

He seems to be walking very confidently. I also thought he might work out.

 

[MassGuy]

I don't think the fact that the shooter hasn't been caught is the fault of local first responders. I think they have done well so far, with a quick response and evacuation of the wounded.

I think any law enforcement organization would have a real challenge in this environment. The neighborhood is part of a city, with nearby highways. The area can't effectively be sealed off. It's dark and provides numerous places to hide, and a perpetrator can drive away and have a short trip to highways that can get them to Connecticut or Massachusetts.

Agreed. By the time they arrived, he had likely already walked out the door. They were at a huge disadvantage at that point, as it's not like he stood out.

 

[Warwick1991]

Looks like the video footage has the suspect walking on Hope St and turning right onto Waterman St (if my Google map skills aren’t letting me down).

When I lived in the area, Waterman Street was very dark after sunset. To catch this guy on video in a low light area, camera quality needs to be high. A Ring camera might pick up an image, perhaps yielding useful footage, but the image quality might be poor. It depends on when the shooter left the building, and if there was any daylight left

 

[whitelilac]

I wonder how they deduced he might be around 30. He could be younger,

 

[TexLil]

Right foot/ankle also appears to overpronate or "buckle under" as he walks.

 

[MassGuy]

I wonder how they deduced he might be around 30. He could be younger,

Certainly not from that video. This might have come from people in that classroom.

And if true, that'll go a long way towards helping them find video of him entering if he was unmasked.