At least 2 killed and several more hurt in shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island
By KIMBERLEE KRUESI and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER - Associated Press
UPDATE:
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — At least 2 people were killed and several more injured in a shooting in the area of Brown University on Saturday, a law enforcement official said, as the Ivy League school issued an active shooter alert and urged students and staff to take shelter during the second day of final exams.
Police did not immediately release details about the number of victims, their conditions or the circumstances of the shooting. The official who gave the tally of at least two dead could not publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.
University officials initially told students and staff that a suspect was in custody, before later saying that was not the case and that police were still searching for a suspect or suspects, according to alerts issued through Brown’s emergency notification system.
Ambulances line Hope Street at Brown University in Providence, R.I., Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, during reports of a shooting. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)
“We’re still getting information about what’s going on, but we’re just telling people to lock their doors and to stay vigilant,” said Providence Councilmember John Goncalves, whose ward includes the Brown campus. “As a Brown alum, someone who loves the Brown community and represents this area, I’m heartbroken. My heart goes out to all the family members and the folks who’ve been impacted.”
The reported shooting occurred near the Barus & Holley building, a seven-story complex that houses the university’s School of Engineering and physics department. According to the university’s website, the building includes more than 100 laboratories, dozens of classrooms and offices.
Engineering design exams were underway in the building when the shooting occurred.
President Donald Trump said late in the afternoon that he has been briefed on the shooting.
“God bless the victims and the families of the victims!” he said on his social media site.
Students were urged to shelter in place as police responded to the scene, and people were told to avoid the area. A police officer warned media to take cover in vehicles because the area was still an active scene.
Officials cautioned that information remained preliminary as investigators worked to determine what had occurred.
Police were actively investigating and still gathering information from the scene, said Kristy DosReis, the chief public information officer for the city of Providence. The FBI said it was assisting in the response.
Brown is a private institution with roughly 7,300 undergraduate students and more than 3,000 graduate students. Saturday was the second day of final exams for the fall semester.
-Durkin Richer reported from Washington.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Police respond to reported shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Police responded to an active shooting Saturday on campus at Brown University in Providence, according to the school’s alert system.
Officials initially said a suspect was in custody, before saying that was not in fact the case and police were still searching for a suspect or suspects.
In this image from video, law enforcement officials gather outside the Brown University campus in Providence, R.I., on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kimberlee Kruesi)
The incident was reported near the Barus & Holley building, a seven-story structure that houses the School of Engineering and Physics Department, according to the school’s website. It includes 117 laboratories, 150 offices, 15 classrooms and 29 labs.
A police officer warned members of the media to take cover in vehicles because the area was still active scene. Officers carrying assault weapons and emergency vehicles lined many of the streets surrounding the engineering school.
Officials were still gathering information, said Kristy DosReis, chief public information officer for the city.
The Ivy League school is a private, nonprofit institution with about 7,300 undergraduates and just over 3,000 graduate students, according to its website.
Saturday was the second day of final exams for the fall semester.
Find more U.S. news stories here.
