Active Shooter Incident at Brown University During Finals Week

Sat Dec 20 2025 12:17:23 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Police are investigating an active shooting incident on the Brown University campus, prompting search for suspects near the School of Engineering.

On Saturday, Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, was the scene of an active shooting incident. Initially, authorities believed a suspect was in custody, but this was later corrected as they continue to search for the shooter or shooters. This incident is occurring as students are in the midst of final exams, raising concerns among the university community.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — An active shooting was reported on Saturday at Brown University, prompting a swift response from local police, according to alerts from the campus.

Initially, police indicated that a suspect was in custody. However, that information was quickly retracted, and authorities confirmed they were still in pursuit of one or more suspects.

The shooting occurred near the Barus & Holley building, a major facility dedicated to engineering and physics, featuring numerous labs and classrooms.

Kristy DosReis, chief public information officer for Providence, indicated that officials were still collecting information at the scene.

Brown University, a prestigious Ivy League institution, is home to approximately 7,300 undergraduate students and over 3,000 graduate students. This incident comes just as students are taking their final exams for the fall semester.