Police rushed to Brown University’s campus in Providence, Rhode Island, on Saturday following reports of a mass shooting near the Barus and Holley engineering buildings, triggering panic among students and staff.
Early reports suggested that multiple people were injured, including students. Scanner audio circulating online indicated the number of victims could be “at least 20,” though authorities have not officially confirmed casualty figures.
Brown University officials alerted students through an emergency message warning of an active shooter in the area. The alert urged people to immediately lock doors, silence phones and remain hidden until further notice.
“BrownUAlert: Urgent. There’s an active shooter near Barus & Holley Engineering. Lock doors, silence phones and stay hidden until further notice,” the message said. It also reiterated standard active-shooter guidance: run if safe to do so, hide if evacuation is not possible, and fight only as a last resort.
In a voicemail sent to students, university officials again warned of an active shooter and advised everyone to avoid the area.
While the suspect has not been officially identified, authorities indicated that the shooter may already be in custody. Police have not yet released details about a motive or whether the attacker was affiliated with the university.
Photos and videos from the scene quickly spread across social media, showing a heavy police presence on campus and frightened students sheltering inside buildings. Some witnesses claimed the shooter was wearing a black mask, but these details have not been confirmed by law enforcement.
Brown University is located in Providence’s historic College Hill neighborhood on the city’s East Side, just east of downtown and overlooking the Providence River. The Ivy League campus is one of the most centrally located in the US, about 50 miles south of Boston.
The incident comes amid heightened concern about campus safety nationwide. Just four days earlier, a student was killed and another critically injured in a shooting at Kentucky State University.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the situation at Brown, and students have been advised to remain alert and follow official instructions as more information becomes available.