Suspect in Brown University Shooting to Be Released, Officials Confirm
A person arrested in connection with a shooting at Brown University that left two students dead will be released, U.S. officials announced Sunday. The decision comes as investigations continue into the tragic incident that also wounded nine others,adding to a growing national crisis of gun violence on school campuses.
Providence, Rhode Island Mayor Brett Smiley stated, “We will be releasing the individual arrested today” in a press conference Sunday. The suspect, described as a former military member with a history of mental health issues, was apprehended Sunday morning following the mass shooting.
The arrest occured overnight at an Hampton Inn in Coventry, Rhode Island, approximately 30 kilometers from the university campus. According to reports from CNN, law enforcement officers forcefully entered a room at the hotel, where the suspect was found in possession of two unspecified firearms. Investigators are currently comparing these weapons to shell casings recovered from the scene. The suspect is believed to be in their 20s or 30s and was not enrolled as a student at Brown University.
A former Providence police official, with 35 years of service, suggested the shooter possessed detailed knowledge of the campus layout. “The shooter knew the building. Knew the area,” they stated. “It wouldn’t surprise me if it was a student, a former student, an employee… They knew where to find people. There were exams on Saturday. They entered practically unnoticed and left the same way.” Authorities have yet to establish a motive for the attack.
Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture of the events. Joseph Oduro, a 21-year-old senior and teaching assistant, recounted the chaos during an economics lecture in the engineering building. “Suddenly, we heard gunshots and screams in the hallway,” he reported. “about three seconds later, a man with a mask and a rifle entered the classroom and started shooting. Students in the middle row had more difficulty escaping the gunfire.” Oduro added that the shooter shouted something, but the words were unintelligible.
Chiang-Heng Chien, 32, described receiving an active shooter alert on his phone while working in a laboratory. “We closed the door, turned off the lights, and hid under the desks, waiting for hours in the dark,” he said. Final exams have been canceled, and students are now returning home for the holidays as concerns about campus security escalate, especially regarding unlocked exterior doors in the engineering building.
The community is gathering Sunday evening for a vigil originally planned as a Christmas tree and Hanukkah menorah lighting ceremony, now transformed into a show of solidarity with the victims. Former President Donald Trump offered brief condolences, stating…
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