On Saturday, December 13, 2025, a shooting at Brown University’s Barus & Holley engineering and physics building in Providence, Rhode Island, left two students dead and nine others wounded as students gathered for final exams. Authorities confirmed the suspect remains at large after an earlier false report of an arrest was retracted while a wide-ranging manhunt continues across campus and surrounding neighborhoods.
What Happened in the Shooting at Brown University
At approximately 4:05 p.m. EST, multiple shots rang out inside Room 166 of the Barus & Holley building, a large facility that houses Brown’s School of Engineering and the physics department. Final exam review sessions were underway when chaos erupted.
- 2 students were killed at the scene.
- Nine others were injured, with eight in critical but stable condition and one with non-life-threatening injuries.
- The university issued an urgent active shooter alert, instructing students to shelter in place, lock doors, and silence phones.
- Early reports of a second shooting and an arrest were later corrected — authorities confirmed no suspect is in custody and the search is ongoing.
It marks one of the deadliest incidents in Brown University’s history and a rare mass shooting at an Ivy League campus.
Timeline of the Incident
- 4:05 p.m. — Shots fired inside Barus & Holley: Professors and students were reviewing material for an upcoming exam when gunfire erupted.
- 4:15–4:22 p.m. — Emergency alerts issued: Brown’s public safety systems triggered multiple active shooter alerts, prompting shelter-in-place instructions.
- Late afternoon — Confusion and false arrest reports: A brief announcement of an arrest was later rescinded, adding to widespread fear as law enforcement clarified the suspect remained free.
- Evening — Manhunt underway: Police and campus officials continued coordinated efforts to locate the shooter as families and students grapple with uncertainty.
Where It Happened: Barus & Holley Building
The Barus & Holley complex (often spelled Barus and Holley), part of Brown’s School of Engineering and Physics Department, includes lecture halls, labs, and faculty offices. On a busy final exam day, the building was full of students preparing for end-of-semester testing when the shooting occurred — a scene that university spokespeople described as “unthinkable.”
Victims: Students on Campus
Although Brown University has not publicly released the names of those killed or wounded, university officials confirmed that all known victims were students at Brown. Medical teams transported the injured to Rhode Island Hospital, where several remain under treatment.
Friends and classmates described scenes of chaos and fear as students barricaded themselves in classrooms and dorm rooms, some unaware if beloved peers had survived.
What Authorities Are Saying
Law enforcement — including Providence police and multiple agencies assisting the search — emphasized that:
- The suspect is still at large.
- A video of the suspected shooter, described as a male in dark clothing, has been released by police to aid in identification.
- The shelter-in-place order remains in effect for campus and nearby areas as investigators canvass the scene and gather evidence.
- Residents and students are urged to stay indoors and report any sightings or relevant information.
Officials have not yet identified a motive, and authorities have not publicly disclosed the type of weapon used.
False Arrest Reports: What Really Happened
In the hours after the shooting began, conflicting information spread rapidly, including an erroneous claim that a suspect had been taken into custody. This was later corrected by both university and police statements, underscoring the chaotic nature of breaking news during active shooter investigations.
Officials clarified that no arrests have been made and that law enforcement continues to pursue leads in the manhunt.
Campus Response & Safety Measures
Brown University immediately enacted emergency protocols typical in active shooter scenarios:
- Shelter-in-place alerts across all campus communications channels.
- Students and staff told to lock doors, silence mobile devices, and hide if evacuation was unsafe.
- Final exams scheduled for Sunday were canceled as the campus remains in protective mode.
University President Christina Paxson, local leaders, and law enforcement unified in urging calm, cooperation, and support for affected families.
National Reaction and Broader Context
The shooting drew swift comments from national figures expressing sorrow and support for Brown University’s community. Federal agencies, including the FBI and ATF, are reported to be assisting local authorities in the investigation.
Providence officials described the events as “devastating” to a tight-knit academic and local community already in the tense finals period.
What We Still Don’t Know
Despite confirmed facts, several critical questions remain unanswered:
- Identity and motive of the shooter.
- Whether additional suspects are involved.
- Exact weapon details and how the suspect accessed the building.
Authorities caution that the situation is evolving and urge residents to rely only on verified updates from police and university channels.
Conclusion: A Campus Gripped by Tragedy and Uncertainty
When a shooting at Brown University shatters the relative calm of an Ivy League campus — where students should be focused on finals, not survival — the repercussions are profound. Two young lives lost, nine wounded, and a continued manhunt leave a community reeling and questioning safety in educational spaces once thought secure.
As investigations continue and law enforcement closes in on the suspect, support for the victims’ families, trauma counseling for students, and heightened campus security will be critical in the weeks ahead.
