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The Brown University Shooter remained at large Saturday after a deadly shooting inside an engineering building on the Ivy League campus left at least two people dead and eight others critically injured, according to city officials. The incident unfolded during the second day of final exams, triggering a massive police response, a campus-wide shelter-in-place order, and widespread fear among students, faculty, and nearby residents.

Brown University Shooting Unfolds During Final Exams

The shooting occurred near the Barus & Holley building, a seven-story complex that houses Brown University’s School of Engineering and physics department.  Engineering design exams were underway inside the building when gunfire erupted.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed the casualties and said the situation remained fluid as law enforcement searched for the shooter.

“We have all available resources” working to locate the suspect, Smiley said, adding that a shelter-in-place order was issued for the campus and surrounding neighborhoods. Residents were urged not to return home until authorities declared the area safe.

Shooter Description and Police Response

Providence Police Deputy Chief Timothy O’Hara said the suspected shooter is a male who was dressed in black and was last seen leaving the building shortly after the attack. Officers were actively searching campus buildings more than two hours after the shooting began.

University officials initially told students and staff through Brown’s emergency notification system that a suspect was in custody. That information was later corrected, with officials clarifying that no shooter had been apprehended. Mayor Smiley said one individual was briefly detained but later determined to have no involvement.

Police warned the public that the scene remained active. At one point, an officer instructed members of the media to take cover inside their vehicles due to the ongoing threat.

Students Describe Chaos and Fear

Students near the engineering complex described moments of panic and confusion as alerts spread across campus.

Chiangheng Chien, a doctoral engineering student who was about a block away, said students in a nearby lab hid under desks and turned off the lights after receiving the emergency alert.

“We didn’t know where the shooter was,” Chien said. “Everyone was just trying to stay quiet and safe.”

Providence City Councilmember John Goncalves, whose ward includes Brown University and who is also a Brown alum, expressed deep sorrow over the violence.