What we know so far about the Brown University shooting

Police in the US state of Rhode Island have detained a person of interest following a deadly shooting at Brown University that left at least two people dead and nine others injured.

Providence Police Chief Colonel Oscar Perez confirmed during a Sunday news conference that the detained individual is a man in his 30s. Authorities said they are not currently searching for any other suspects. Perez did not disclose where the person was arrested or whether the individual had any direct connection to Brown University.

The shooting took place on Saturday afternoon at the Ivy League campus in Providence, Rhode Island. A suspect with a firearm reportedly entered a university building while students were taking exams, triggering panic and an immediate emergency response.

Campus lockdown and massive police response

Brown University was placed under lockdown early Sunday as police launched a large scale search operation. Streets surrounding the campus were filled with emergency vehicles, and security was tightened across Providence.

More than 400 law enforcement officers were deployed in the manhunt. Providence police worked alongside federal agencies, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, to search nearby streets and buildings.

Earlier, Providence Deputy Police Chief Timothy O’Hara said the suspect had not yet been identified. Officials later confirmed that shell casings were recovered from the scene, though details about the weapon and motive have not been released.

Suspect description and investigation

Police said they planned to release video footage of the suspect. The individual was described as a male possibly in his 30s, dressed in black, and may have been wearing a mask at the time of the shooting.

Authorities have stated that the investigation is ongoing and that more information will be shared once it is confirmed.

City and university response

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed that two students were killed and nine others were injured in the attack. He said emergency responders received a 911 call at approximately 4:05pm local time, alerting them to the shooting at the Brown campus.

While declining to identify the victims due to the active investigation, the mayor sought to reassure residents and students. A shelter in place order remained in effect for parts of the campus and nearby neighborhoods as police completed their work.

A wider concern

Saturday’s shooting marks the second major incident of gun violence at a US university this week, once again raising concerns about campus safety across the country.

Brown University officials said counseling and support services are being made available to students and staff as the community processes the tragedy.

This is a developing story, and further updates are expected from Providence police and Rhode Island authorities.