On Saturday, December 13, 2025, a mass shooting occurred inside the Barus & Holley engineering and physics building on the campus of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, during the afternoon, just after 4:05 p.m. EST. The building was being used for final exam review sessions and was unusually crowded with students preparing for exams when the gunfire erupted.

According to official reports, two students were killed and nine others were wounded in the attack. The victims were students attending sessions inside the lecture hall; several were critically injured and transported to local hospitals for emergency care.

The university’s emergency alert system (“BrownUAlert”) notified the campus shortly after the shooting was reported, instructing people to lock doors, silence phones, and shelter in place as law enforcement responded. Schools and offices across campus implemented lockdowns, and a reunification center was established to help families locate and account for students.

Authorities described the gunman as a male wearing dark or black clothing, and surveillance footage released later showed a person of interest exiting the building and walking nearby. Initial reports on custody of a suspect were conflicting—an individual was briefly detained and later released—but as of the latest official updates the investigation remains active and police continue to search for the perpetrator.

The shooting unfolded amid the tense atmosphere of final exams, heightening the fear and chaos as students either hid under desks, barricaded themselves in classrooms, or ran for safety. Campus authorities worked with Providence police and multiple agencies to secure the area, and the shelter-in-place order was maintained through the evening before being lifted early the next day once a person of interest was taken into custody for questioning.

In response, Brown University canceled remaining classes and exams for the fall 2025 semester, and support services—including counseling and reunification efforts—were mobilized for students, staff, and families affected by the tragedy. Local and national leaders expressed condolences and emphasized community resilience amid ongoing investigations.