A gunman opened fire inside Brown University’s Barus & Holley engineering and physics building on Saturday afternoon while students were taking final exams, killing two students and wounding nine others. Brown President Christina Paxson said the shooting occurred at about 4 p.m. ET in an economics class.
Providence, R.I., officials said police detained a man in his 20s on Sunday as a person of interest. A source familiar with the investigation, not authorized to speak publicly, identified him as Benjamin Erickson; authorities have not released additional details or a motive. Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez said investigators were not actively looking for anyone else but that the probe remains ongoing.
FBI Director Kash Patel said on X that law enforcement detained the person of interest in a hotel room in Coventry, about 20 miles southwest of Brown, after a lead from Providence Police. Authorities had earlier described a suspect as “a male dressed in black” who fled the scene on foot. Brown Provost Francis Doyle noted that the building requires card swipes for access but said there was likely heavy traffic during exams. Officials released a short video showing a person of interest walking away from the scene; the person’s face is not visible in the footage.
Paxson said seven victims were in “critical but stable” condition, one was in critical condition, and a ninth person was treated and discharged. The university canceled almost all remaining in-person exams for the fall semester to focus on care and support for the community. A shelter-in-place order for campus and nearby areas was lifted Sunday morning.
The attack shocked the Brown community just days before winter break. Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley and national figures, including former President Trump, offered condolences. Investigators continue to gather evidence and pursue leads; authorities have not announced a motive.