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Authorities in Rhode Island are urgently searching for a man dressed entirely in black, who unleashed gunfire on the Brown University campus Saturday evening. The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of at least two individuals and left at least eight others injured. Officials have emphasized that the situation is still developing, with the possibility of more victims coming to light.
During a press briefing held on Saturday night, officials detailed that the gunman began firing inside the Barus and Holley Engineering building at approximately 4:22 p.m. local time. By the time law enforcement arrived and secured the area, the assailant had already escaped through an exit, remaining at large.
Currently, information about the suspect is sparse. He is described only as a male clad in all-black attire. The search for this individual continues as authorities work tirelessly to ensure the safety of the community and bring the perpetrator to justice.
By the time officers swept the scene, the suspect had fled through an exit and remains at large, officials said.
Little is known of the suspect at this time, and is described only as a male ‘wearing all black’ clothing.
Investigators have not yet recovered any weapons used in the shooting, officials said at the press conference. A source told the Associated Press investigators believe a handgun was used by the gunman.
Authorities initially said around an hour after the shooting that a suspect was in custody, however this statement was quickly walked back and officials clarified that no suspects have been arrested.
Conflicting reports from the chaotic scene also claimed a secondary shooting occurred blocks away from the campus around an hour after the initial shooting. Brown University said in an update that those reports were ‘unfounded.’
A heavy law enforcement response descended on the campus, and the Trump administration said FBI and ATF agents were on the scene.
Rhode Island authorities have launched an urgent manhunt for a male suspect ‘wearing all black’ who opened fire on the Brown University campus on Saturday evening
At least two people were killed and at least eight injured in the horror shooting, with officials stressing the situation remains ‘fluid’ and victim tolls may rise
Students have been urged to remain sheltered in place amid conflicting reports that the suspect was in custody, which were later walked back by officials.
The shooting unfolded as students were taking their final exams, local media outlets said.
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social he had been briefed on the shooting and the FBI were on the scene.
The president initially said a suspect was in custody, but walked back his statement and said in a follow up post: ‘The Brown University Police reversed their previous statement — The suspect is NOT in custody.’
Law enforcement sources told CNN that the confusion over reports of a second shooting were sparked by a ‘confrontation’ with an individual blocks away from the campus, which resulted in gunfire.
The police source said that the connection between the incident and the suspected shooter is uncertain, but the incident was the reason for conflicting reports that a suspect was in custody.
Hours after the shooting took place, terrified students remained in lockdown as images surfaced on social media showing barricaded doors while the gunman remained on the loose.
A heavy law enforcement response descended on the campus, and the Trump administration said FBI and ATF agents were on the scene
Images showed students sheltering in place as the Brown University campus was plunged into lockdown
Hours after the shooting took place, terrified students remained in lockdown as images surfaced on social media showing barricaded doors while the gunman remained on the loose
Witnesses told WJAR that a huge law enforcement response descended on the scene, and they saw first responders performing CPR on at least three victims.
‘I started seeing a bunch of cars going towards the scene and I saw someone on the ground, unfortunately. It looked like they were getting CPR,’ said Providence resident Jib Daya.
‘I saw about two people getting carried away on the stretcher.’
Daya said the Brown campus area is known as a quiet, safe community, and hoped such a tragedy would ‘never come’ to those affected.
‘Now it’s over here… it’s very scary because I don’t want to get harmed and I don’t want my people in my state to get harmed,’ he said.