Active Shooting Incident at Brown University Leaves Community on Edge

Sun Dec 14 2025 07:13:44 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

An alarming situation unfolded at Brown University as reports of an active shooter triggered a campus alert, raising concerns during final exams.

On Saturday, Brown University in Providence, R.I., experienced an active shooting situation, causing significant panic among students and faculty. Although officials initially indicated a suspect was in custody, they later clarified that the search for potential suspects was ongoing. The incident occurred near the Barus & Holley building, a key facility for engineering and physics studies. The university, which serves around 10,300 students, was in the midst of final exams, heightening the urgency for safety protocols.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Police responded to an active shooting Saturday on campus at Brown University in Providence, according to the school’s alert system.

Officials initially said a suspect was in custody, before stating that was not the case and that police were continuing to search for a suspect or suspects.

The incident occurred near the Barus & Holley building, a seven-story structure that contains the School of Engineering and Physics Department, as detailed on the university's website. This building includes 117 labs, 150 offices, and 29 classrooms.

Authorities are still gathering information from the active scene, noted Kristy DosReis, chief public information officer for the city.

Brown University, a private Ivy League institution, has approximately 7,300 undergraduate students and over 3,000 graduate students, according to its official site.

Saturday marked the second day of final exams for the fall semester, complicating the atmosphere on campus during this distressing event.