Police respond to active shooter at Brown University

(Brown University)

Police responded to an active shooter situation at Brown University this afternoon. 

At 4:22 p.m. EST, a text alert was sent to members of the campus community alerting them of an active shooter and to lock doors, silence phone and remain sheltered until further notice. There are conflicting reports whether one suspect is in custody or not.

2:31 p.m.: Brown University X account states "continue to shelter in place"

Providence Police say the same."Multiple shot in the area of Brown University. This is an active investigation. Please shelter in place or avoid the area until further notice."

Providence Police are "asking that press/news trucks use the Brook St Fire Station as a staging area."

2:45 p.m. President Trump says suspect is in custody.

2:54 p.m. : BrownUAlert: 5th Update, Urgent: Situation remains ongoing. Continue to shelter in place. Law enforcement on site.

3:11 p.m. Brown University issues a statement :

"At 4:22 p.m., we alerted our campus to an active shooter incident near Barus & Holley Engineering. We informed our community to shelter in place by locking doors, silence phones and stay hidden until further notice. This remains an active crime scene, and law enforcement continues to search for the suspect. The situation is ongoing, and all members of the community should continue to shelter in place.

We are very sorry to share that we have confirmed reports of multiple shooting victims, but we are not able to share their condition. They have been transported to local hospitals.

Our first priority is the safety of our community and coordinating closely with local law enforcement and medical personnel to ensure their safety. We are working immediately to determine who was in the building at the time of the shooting. We had multiple exams scheduled in that building from 2 pm to 5 pm. We can confirm that support services are on site.

Senior administrative leaders from across the university are convened in emergency command to mobilize ongoing response and support for our community. We are establishing support for our community and families.

We have been and continue to be very grateful to law enforcement and emergency medical personnel. We have relocated students to get support services at a secure location.

Please continue to take all steps to remain safe. Follow the instructions of law enforcement personnel and avoid the area."

3:15 p.m: BrownUAlert: 6th Update, The earlier report of a secondary shooting incident near Governor Street is unfounded. However, it remains critical to continue to shelter in place due to the original situation. Brown University is doing a great job with timely information.

3:22 p.m. FBI DirectorKash Patel: "FBI personnel are on the scene and assisting this evening after the shooting at Brown University and we will provide all capabilities necessary." Brown, Providence Police, now FBI all say no suspect in custody @WhiteHouse @POTUS

3:39 p.m.:  Brown University: "we have confirmed reports of two deceased victims from the active shooting situation at the Barus & Holley engineering building. There are eight additional victims in critical, but stable condition at the hospital. There remains a shelter in place order.

At press conference Providence Police Chief says active shooter is a male and "dressed in all black."

At evening press conference, number of injured is now 9. Law enforcement still on scene. Shelter in place still effect.

12/14: 3 a.m. PST update: Providence Police told Brown University that the shelter in place order "ended for the entire Brown campus. However, police activity continues in areas that are still considered an active crime scene." Access to these areas of campus is limited.

12/14 4:08 a.m. PST ProvidenceRIPD confirm "We have detained a person of interest in connection with yesterdays shooting at Brown. The shelter in place has been lifted."

If CNN is correct about all these other details about the person of interest detained FBI Director Kash Patel, Providence RIPD & Providence officials should apologize to BrownUniversity. They could have released the video earlier. The rest of the media can't seem to do any original reporting on scene. What if the person of interest had left Rhode Island?

Only CNN is reporting all these details. A CNN crew was at the Hampton Inn in Coventry, Rhode Island, early this morning when 24-year-old Benjamin Erickson of Wisconsin was detained.

Only CNN is reporting that FBI was at a home owned by the family of  and that a revolver and small Glock handgun was found in his hotel room.

NBC reports that as of 2024,  Erickson's resided at an apartment in Washington, D.C., he previously lived in Wisconsin and he  was an Army infantryman from May 2021 to November 2024. New York Post adds Erickson's voter registry showing a “statehood” party affiliation.

12/14/25: At tonight's press conference, it was announced that the person of interest detained earlier today has been released from custody. Summary is evidence that led to arresting Erickson was examined but the evidence points in a different direction and they have no idea how long it will take. These news conferences are a joke. 24 hours later, they are clueless and when they speak; they create more confusion. S