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By Adeola Adeosun and Peter Aitken
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At least two people have been killed and several more injured in an active shooter situation at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, according to Providence Mayor Brett Smiley.
At a press conference that took place around 6:30 p.m. ET, Smiley confirmed that two individuals had died and eight others had been taken to hospital for treatment.
Officials initially said a suspect was in custody, before saying that was not the case and police were still searching for a suspect or suspects. The only details provided during the evening press conference was that the shooter wore black and exited the building via Hope Street.
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Newsweek reached out to Brown University, the Brown University Department of Public Safety, and the Providence Police Department via email on Saturday for comment.
The Context
Gun violence remains a primary public safety concern, especially after several high-profile shootings this year including the assassination of Democratic Minnesota House Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband in their home; the shooting at the Annunciation Catholic Church on the first day of school in Minneapolis that killed two children; the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah; and the shooting at a Michigan Mormon church.
Mass killings in the country dropped to their lowest level in two decades in 2025, but political violence and school shootings continue to prompt heavy debate over gun control.
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What To Know
Brown University alerted the campus to an active shooter incident near the Barus & Holley Engineering building at around 4:22 p.m. ET, telling students and staff to shelter in place, lock doors, silence phones, and stay away until further notice.
"This remains an active crime scene, and law enforcement continues to search for the suspect. The situation is ongoing, and all members of the community should continue to shelter in place," school officials said in a statement issued shortly after 6:00 p.m. ET.
Multiple people have been shot, the school said, and their conditions remain unknown as officials cannot share that information with the public at this time - only that the victims have been transported to local hospitals.
School leadership has convened in an "emergency command" to coordinate the school's response to the crisis.
Local law enforcement urged the public to "exercise caution and avoid" the area around Hope Street "until further notice."
The school's alert system reported shots fired at 5:27 p.m. ET near Governor Street, but later said that reports of a secondary shooting incident at that location were "unfounded."
No further details about potential victims, the shooter's identity, or the current status of the situation were immediately available. Officials have cautioned that information remained preliminary as investigators continue to figure out what happened.
The campus is in the midst of finals week, with students yet to start heading home for the holiday break.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump in a post on Truth Social, in part: "I have been briefed on the shooting that took place at Brown University in Rhode Island. The FBI is on the scene."
The Providence Police Department in a post on X: "There is currently heavy Providence Police and Fire presence on Hope Street near Brown University. Please exercise caution and avoid this area until further notice."
Brown University in a statement posted on the school's website, in part: "Our first priority is the safety of our community and coordinating closely with local law enforcement and medical personnel to ensure their safety. We are working immediately to determine who was in the building at the time of the shooting. We had multiple exams scheduled in that building from 2 pm to 5 pm. We can confirm that support services are on site."
"We have been and continue to be very grateful to law enforcement and emergency medical personnel. We have relocated students to get support services at a secure location," officials added. "Please continue to take all steps to remain safe. Follow the instructions of law enforcement personnel and avoid the area."
What Happens Next
An active investigation remains open, and police even had to ask the news media gathering at the scene to move to a different staging area.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
Update 12/13/25, 5:14 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 12/13/25, 5:34 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 12/13/25, 6:00 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 12/13/25, 6:25 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 12/13/25, 6:30 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 12/13/25, 6:43 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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