A shooter killed two students and injured nine at Brown University’s Providence, R.I., campus Saturday, and the suspect was still at large.
One student was in critical condition, six were in critical but stable condition, one was in stable condition, and one was treated and released, according to an update from Brown President Christina Paxson in the early hours of Sunday.
University and local police were on the scene near Barus & Holley, a building that houses the university’s engineering and physics departments, according to campuswide alerts late Saturday afternoon. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were assisting local and university police in the investigation.
An 11-second video released by Providence police shows the suspect, dressed in black, walking down a sidewalk in daylight and turning a corner.
The building where the shooting took place is a hub of student activity, filled classrooms and labs, said Talib Reddick, Brown’s student-body president. “There’s a huge open space there where students get together and chill,” Reddick, 22 years old, said.
The university told students and anyone nearby to shelter in place. Across campus students were hiding in basements and barricading themselves in dorm rooms and classrooms, Reddick said.
People hug outside the Nelson Fitness Center after Brown University was locked down amid reports of a shooting on campus in Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. December 13, 2025. REUTERS/Taylor Coester TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Reddick himself locked his dorm room door, shut out the lights and drew the shades. He spoke from the darkened room with the whir of helicopters overhead and the wail of police sirens on the ground. People are terrified, he said.
Students on the Ivy League university’s campus began their final-exam period Friday with exams scheduled in the engineering building when the shooting occurred. The university said it was canceling finals on Sunday and would be working to determine who was in the building on Saturday.
About 30 students gathered on campus for a service Saturday afternoon to mark the end of the Jewish sabbath. When news of the shooting reached them through the school alert, they headed to a safe room, locking doors and piling desks and chairs against them.
Many of the students didn’t have their phones with them since it had been Shabbat, so they passed around the phones they did have to call families and let them know they were OK.
“There is a lot of genuine shock,” said Eli Banyasz , a freshman.
On Saturday, Hillel Rabbi Josh Bolton offered pastoral support while students waited for more information. Marlo Hulnick , 21, described a sense of dread in the air as reports of casualties trickled in without anyone knowing the identities of the victims.
“It will be terrible no matter whose names are attached to the injuries,” Hulnick said. “But everyone is hoping it is not someone they know and care about.”
Write to Neil Mehta at neil.mehta@wsj.com , Douglas Belkin at Doug.Belkin@wsj.com and Jennifer Calfas at jennifer.calfas@wsj.com
