Manhunt Underway After Deadly Shooting at Brown University During Final Exams
Providence, Sunday, 14 December 2025.
On December 13, 2025, a shooting at Brown University’s School of Engineering left two dead and eight injured as students sat for final exams. With the suspect still at large, the Ivy League campus remains in strict lockdown while local and federal authorities conduct an extensive search across Providence to apprehend the gunman.
Incident Timeline and Casualties
The violence erupted at approximately 16:05 local time on Saturday, December 13, disrupting the academic quiet of the Barus & Holley building, which houses the School of Engineering and Physics Department [2][7]. At the time of the attack, students were midway through final exams scheduled to run from 14:00 to 17:00 [2]. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and university officials confirmed that two community members were killed in the attack, while eight others sustained gunshot wounds [1][7]. The victims were transported to Rhode Island Hospital, which was subsequently placed under lockdown; medical updates indicate that six of the injured are in critical but stable condition, one remains in critical condition, and one has been stabilized [3][7].
Confusion and Ongoing Manhunt
Law enforcement is currently searching for a male suspect dressed in dark clothing who was last seen exiting the engineering building toward Hope Street [3][7]. The investigation faced early confusion when initial reports suggested a suspect was in custody; however, these statements were retracted, and authorities confirmed that the shooter remains at large and the weapon has not been recovered [5][7]. The search operation has escalated to include federal resources, with agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) assisting Rhode Island law enforcement in tracking the suspect [5][6].
Emergency Protocols and Legislative Context
As the situation unfolded, the university’s emergency alert system issued a directive to “Run, Hide, Fight,” ordering a campus-wide shelter-in-place that extended to the surrounding Providence area [4][6]. University President Christina H. Paxson characterized the event as a “deeply tragic day” and confirmed that support services have been mobilized for the students and families involved [4][6]. This incident occurs against a backdrop of evolving firearm regulations in the state; in the spring of 2025, the Rhode Island Legislature passed an assault weapon ban intended to prohibit the sale and manufacture of certain high-powered firearms [3]. However, the operational implementation of this ban is not scheduled to begin until July 2026 [3].