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

[Elley Mae]

What did shooter yell?

Don’t know

Witnesses said that the gunman shouted something, but revealed they were not sure exactly what. Detectives are still trying to figure out what the gunman said, authorities revealed.

Brown U. gunman shouted something before opening fire, as ‘person of interest’ is busted

A person of interest has been arrested in the shooting at Brown University that left two people dead and nine wounded, authorities in Rhode Island announced on Sunday morning.

nypost.com

 

[Elley Mae]

According to ABC News law enforcement sources and Coventry police, the individual was in possession of two guns.

Police: Person of interest in custody in Brown University shooting | ABC6

First responders on the scene of a mass shooting at Brown University on Dec. 13, 2025.PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Providence police said Sunday morning a person of interest is in custody in connection with a fatal mass shooting at Brown University Saturday. Additionally, sources tell ABC News the...

www.abc6.com

 

[justtrish]

Another press conference right now and sounds like nothing new. I am not sure why they keep holding press conferences and they aren't sharing anything just saying it's part of the investigation. That's fine but quit holding these press conferences and just work on what you have to work on.

 

[borndem]

With the guns, always the guns. IMO

My bold.
Can't live without 'em, right? SMH.

Thinking of those who knew and loved those who were killed.
Wondering how many have been wounded -- hoping for good news soon.

 

[Inthedetails]

Another press conference right now and sounds like nothing new. I am not sure why they keep holding press conferences and they aren't sharing anything just saying it's part of the investigation. That's fine but quit holding these press conferences and just work on what you have to work on.

When there aren't press conferences during a crisis, rumors start and can cause more damage. The visibility of leaders also can be a calming effect for a worried city.

The pressers might seem pointless, but they can serve purposes beyond true-crime info dump. And, they will soon cease anyway.

jmo

 

[Serononin]

This brings up a question I was thinking about this fall:

My kid is a freshman at community college. Access to campus buildings is completely unrestricted. Buildings open at 5 am and are open until 11 pm. He has a Tu night class that gets out at 9 pm, and sometimes I've had to drive him and hang out there for a few hours (he doesn't have a license, we don't live nearby, and sometimes there has been an issue with the bus/train). Between 8-9 is when the biggest academic building (kind of the catch all building that houses many different depts) gets really dead when I've been sitting there. I see security walking through the halls at times. Anyone can walk in.

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).

I'm not in the US, but I've been at three different universities in the UK, and building access definitely varies. The first one needed student or staff ID to get into the majority of department buildings, libraries, common rooms, even the laundry rooms. At the third, I only encountered ID access in the libraries and occasionally in a department building - I spent a fair bit of time studying in department buildings other than my own, several of them had cafes in the lobby that were open to the public. The second I'm not sure about, because most of the non-residential buildings were closed due to Covid restrictions, but on the rare occasion I had an in-person class, I don't remember needing my ID to get in

 

[rosesfromangels]

IIRC, there was an assistant professor deported in March. This, or any other political factor could have been the impetus. Or none at all. An unbalanced mind doesn’t need a reason.

Amateur opinion and speculation only

 

[Kaley Smith]

Well Richard Allen’s gait was never picked up on so I’m not convinced really

True... and that was a frontal view. I tend to think some people had selective amnesia in that case because there was also a brief recording of his voice. Maybe they were afraid to come forward.

 

[Knox]

Does anyone else think he's limping? To me, he looks like his right leg is giving him problems.

JMVHO.

Just catching up this morning , so not sure if we have different information yet - if he had a rifle, it’s likely hidden in his pants leg.

 

[Stunned]

Just catching up this morning , so not sure if we have different information yet - if he had a rifle, it’s likely hidden in his pants leg.

That could explain his awkward gait. IMO

 

[O.Incandenza]

Professor Friedberg, who teaches the class but was not present, is also an professor in the Judaic Studies program. Her Brown University profile states that her research areas of interest include Israel and Jewish social sciences. I unfortunately wouldn't be all that surprised if it was targeted.

It's possible, but there are way easier ways to target a professor than showing up at the very end of a study session for one of her intro classes. If someone had done enough research to figure out when and where a study session would be held (much harder to figure out than a normal class) then you'd think they'd also know it would be led by a TA.

 

[Warwick1991]

That could explain his awkward gait. IMO

Earlier reports say it was a handgun. Some of the news accounts linked further back in the thread say that handguns were involved. I don't think he could hide a rifle in a pant leg that easily; he wasn't thin and in the photos he looked overweight. Also, the weather was in the 30s (Fahrenheit) and his jacket could be utilized to hide a handgun. I haven't seen anything definitive yet

Another news account previously linked in this thread noted that a laser sight was used, and that (2) 30 round magazines were found. A news account also linked earlier noted that at least (40) 9mm rounds were fired. I am guessing that he may have had (2) 9mm handguns equipped with 30 round magazines and 1 had laser sights. The 30 round magazines are now illegal in Rhode Island. See this excerpt from Rhode Island General Laws (RIGL): https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE11/11-47/INDEX.htm

 

[Warwick1991]

It's possible, but there are way easier ways to target a professor than showing up at the very end of a study session for one of her intro classes. If someone had done enough research to figure out when and where a study session would be held (much harder to figure out than a normal class) then you'd think they'd also know it would be led by a TA.

The shooter may not be familiar with university practices, such as the use of teaching assistants. He may have found schedules online or posted somewhere, but didn't realize that the professor herself wouldn't be present.

 

[katydid23]

Well Richard Allen’s gait was never picked up on so I’m not convinced really

I think Richard Allen's wife recognised his gait but she didnt want to divulge that serious news, imo.

 

[katydid23]

The question is if it's a "natural" limp, or if he has some kind of knee brace on to change his normal gait. A knee brace would make it a bit difficult to stretch out the knee normally whrn walking.

True, it could change his normal gait. But if I was doing a mass shooting, I wouldn't want to hamper my ability to get away quickly just to slightly change my gait. IMO

 

[borndem]

I wonder how large the perimeter is? Is it possible they worry that he is still in the immediate area---hiding among the hidden students?

His black pants and outer shirt look like they might be too large for him and thrown on over his regular clothing?

My bold.
Hmmm -- that could indeed be possible.
If so, the guy will have to get rid of them in a hurry, IMO.
Nevertheless, it could be a smart thing to do -- as long as he had a place in mind to quickly dump the clothes .

 

[99cats]

It's possible, but there are way easier ways to target a professor than showing up at the very end of a study session for one of her intro classes. If someone had done enough research to figure out when and where a study session would be held (much harder to figure out than a normal class) then you'd think they'd also know it

There is, but unfortunately you can't ascribe logic to actions like this. It's not terribly uncommon for school shooters to target one or two primary targets, but performing the action in public.

 

[Herat]

It almost sounds like he was a hired shooter.

No apparent ties to Brown University, the Economics class, the city, the state.

Was the Professor targeted specifically? How would he have known about this Saturday review session? - It's not like it's a regular schedule you could expect from a college course.

 

[katydid23]

I think of that being close. If someone lives in the area, they would likely just go home. If they don't then I would imagine they want to get far away as possible so only going that far is still close in my mind. I would want to put as much distance between myself and the location as I could. So, to me it is close if you aren't from the area, why stay there and if you are, why not go home where you might feel safe.

What if his home is actually right there by the University? Maybe he didnt want to go home and be seen by friends or neighbors at that moment?

 

[whitelilac]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed> ... Might this guy have been rejected admission to Brown which he had his heart set on? Might that professor have been on the admissions committee?