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A gunman killed at least two people and wounded nine others Saturday at Brown University in the U.S. city of Providence, Rhode Island, prompting a campus-wide lockdown as hundreds of law enforcement officers searched for the suspect late into the night.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said two people were pronounced dead at the scene, while eight victims were hospitalized in critical but stable condition. A ninth person was treated for injuries caused by fragments from the shooting.
“I can confirm that there are two individuals who have died this afternoon, and there are another eight in critical status, though stable, at Rhode Island Hospital,” Smiley told reporters at a news conference.
Authorities said the first emergency call was received shortly after 4:00 p.m. local time, triggering a rapid response from Brown University police, Providence police, firefighters, and emergency medical teams.
The shooting occurred at the Barus and Holley Engineering Building, which houses classrooms and laboratories. Two exams were scheduled to take place in the building at the time of the attack, university officials said.
Police said officers immediately entered the building and conducted a systematic search but did not locate the shooter.
The suspect is believed to be a man dressed in black who was last seen exiting the building. No arrests have been made, and no weapon has been recovered. The motive remains unknown.
Brown University issued an emergency alert at 4:22 p.m. (2122 GMT), warning of an active shooter and instructing students and staff to lock doors, silence phones, and remain hidden. As of late Saturday, the shelter-in-place order remained in effect.
University President Christina Paxson said 10 of the 11 victims were students. Officials declined to release further details about the victims, citing the ongoing investigation.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as students fled nearby buildings. Katie Sun, a student, told the Brown Daily Herald she heard gunfire while studying nearby and ran to her dorm, leaving her belongings behind.
“It was honestly quite terrifying,” she said.
Over 400 officers, including local police, state police, FBI agents, and personnel from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, were involved in the search operation, authorities said.
Police released brief surveillance footage showing the suspect walking away from the scene.
Fire officials said rescue teams continued checking campus buildings to ensure there were no additional victims.
Brown University said it is establishing a family reunification center and will provide updates through official channels.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the shooting, calling it “a terrible thing” and offering prayers for the victims.
Brown University, an Ivy League institution in Providence near Boston, enrolls about 11,000 students.
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