A mass shooting occurred on December 13, 2025, at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, during the afternoon final exam period. The gunfire erupted inside a classroom in the Barus & Holley engineering and physics building, a central location where students were studying and attending exam review sessions. Authorities reported two students killed and nine others wounded in the incident, which prompted immediate shelter‑in‑place orders across the campus.

The initial emergency alert was sent to students and staff shortly after 4 p.m. EST, warning of an active shooter and instructing everyone to lock doors, silence phones, and remain hidden. The university and law enforcement agencies—including local police, the FBI, and ATF—responded rapidly, locking down the College Hill campus as panic spread among students and faculty.

The shooting shattered what began as a normal final exam review session, abruptly transforming classrooms into scenes of fear and desperate survival. Students hid under desks, barricaded doors, and sent urgent text messages to family members. Hospitals in Providence were quickly overwhelmed with the injured, as emergency responders worked to treat those shot and to evacuate others.

Amid the chaos, furniture and personal items were used as improvised protection while students sought safety. Faculty and peers tried to comfort one another, with some helping carry the wounded away from the scene. The city’s emergency services were swamped with calls, and parents anxiously monitored news reports and communications from loved ones throughout the tense hours that followed.

Two individuals were confirmed dead, both identified as students of Brown University, and nine other victims were transported to local hospitals with gunshot wounds. Law enforcement reported varying degrees of injury, with multiple victims in critical or critical but stable condition, while others were stabilized and released after treatment.

Authorities established a reunification center at the Nelson Fitness Center on Hope Street to assist families and help loved ones locate those affected. Support services, including counseling and mental health resources, were set up immediately after the tragedy to help students, staff, and families cope with the trauma and uncertainty in the hours and days that followed.

In the immediate aftermath, police released surveillance footage showing a person of interest believed to be connected to the shooting, described as wearing dark clothing. Law enforcement urged the public to provide tips and remain vigilant as the investigation continued.

At one point, a person of interest was taken into custody based on a tip and geolocation data, but officials later clarified that the individual was released without charges as the investigation remained active. Authorities continue to search for the actual suspect, who is described only as a male last seen leaving the Barus & Holley building after the attack.

Brown University’s campus was placed under lockdown for hours as police systematically searched buildings and guarded perimeters. Classes and final exams scheduled for the remainder of the semester were canceled to give the community time to grieve and regroup. Officials emphasized that academic life would be rescheduled once it was safe and appropriate to do so.

President Christina H. Paxson called the shooting “a deeply tragic day” and expressed sorrow for the families of the victims. She also noted the emotional impact on students and staff, emphasizing the need for ongoing support during the aftermath of the attack.

Mayor Brett Smiley and Rhode Island officials described the events as “unthinkable” and assured residents that police presence would remain strong as part of the ongoing investigation. The wider Providence community has mobilized to support those affected, and law enforcement continues to comb through evidence, interview potential witnesses, and encourage public cooperation.

National leaders, including President Trump and other elected officials, condemned the violence and offered condolences, framing the incident within broader debates about gun violence and campus safety. Meanwhile, students and families grapple with the emotional and psychological aftermath, as Providence and Brown University work toward healing and recovery in the wake of the deadliest shooting in the school’s history.