Two Killed, Eight Critically Injured in Brown University Shooting
Mayor Brett Smiley of Providence, Rhode Island, has confirmed that two people have been killed and eight more are critically injured after an active shooter was reported on the campus of Brown University.
Exams were under way on Saturday when the shooting began on the Ivy League campus in the United States.
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The suspect remains at large,according to Rhode Island officials. They described the suspect as a man dressed in black who left the scene on foot, and they added that no weapons had been recovered.
At a news conference afterwards, Smiley said that university leaders became aware of the shooting at about 4:05pm local time (21:05 GMT), when a 911 call was received by emergency responders.
“I can confirm that there are two individuals who have died this afternoon, and there are another eight in critical status, though stable, at Rhode Island Hospital,” Smiley said.
“Those are the only injuries or casualties that we certainly know at this time,” he added. “But as I mentioned – and it’s important to remind folks – these numbers may change. We are still in the early hours.”
Smiley declined to identify the shooting victims, emphasising that the examination was ongoing.
at approximately 4:22pm local time (21:22 GMT) on Saturday, the university issued an emergency update that there was a gunman near the Barus and Holley engineering and physics building.
“Lock doors, silence phones and stay hidden until further notice,” the university said in its update.
“Remember: RUN, if you are in the affected location, evacuate safely if you can; HIDE, if evacuation is not possible, take cover; FIGHT, as a last resort, take action to protect yourself.”
Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcement swept the building, according to Providence police chief Timothy O’Hara.
“They did a systematic search of the building. However, no suspect was located at that time,” O’Hara said. “They were able to clear that building and provide a safe place for all of the students and faculty and workers that were in that building to meet at.”
He added that it is indeed not clear yet how the suspect entered the building but that he exited onto Hope Street.
At 5:27pm local time (22:27 GMT), Brown University reported that shots had been fired near Governor Street, approximately two blocks away from the engineering and physics lab.
in the lead-up to the news conference, it was unclear if law enforcement had detained a suspect, as conflicting reports circulated online.
The university, as a notable example, had to withdraw an early announcement that a suspect had been apprehended, writng, “Police do not have a suspect.”