News Beat
Brown University shooting live updates: Multiple people shot as search underway for suspect
Law enforcement is responding to reports of an active shooter on Brown University’s campus in Providence, Rhode Island, according to a text message sent by the school.
Around 4:20 p.m., students received a text message alerting them to a shooter near the Barus & Holley building, located near Hope Street. The university urged students to lock doors, silence phones and stay hidden until further notice. It reminded them to run, hide or fight as a last resort.
The school initially believed a suspect was in custody, but later deleted the alert and said, “police do not have a suspect in custody.”
Multiple people have been shot, the Providence Police Department said shortly before 6 p.m. They did not provide details about how many people were injured or what their current condition was.
The student newspaper, the Brown Daily Herald, said videos depicted “several individuals lying on the ground near the Sciences Library.”
President Donald Trump and other officials said they had been briefed on the shooting and were monitoring it for updates. The FBI and ATF are currently on the scene.
Law enforcement continue to search for suspect
Law enforcement in Rhode Island is still looking for the suspected shooter, Brown University said in a statement at 6:05 p.m.
The school confirmed that multiple people had been shot but could not provide details about their conditions.
“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 hospital,” Brown wrote.
Ariana Baio13 December 2025 23:12
Trump clarifies no suspect in custody
Trump released a second statement, clarifying that no suspect is in custody at Brown University.
The president’s previous Truth Social post contained incorrect information.
Ariana Baio13 December 2025 23:09
In photos: First responders flock to Brown University
Ariana Baio13 December 2025 23:05
Students were in the middle of finals
Students at Brown University had just begun their final exam period for the fall semester, according to the school’s academic calendar.
The exam period began Friday, Dec. 12, and was expected to run through Dec. 20.
Ariana Baio13 December 2025 23:03
Witness describes seeing people on the ground
A resident of Providence said they saw a person lying on the ground as multiple cars rushed by, shortly after the shooting began.
“I started seeing a bunch of cars going towards the scene and I saw someone on the ground, unfortunately. It looked like they were getting CPR,” Jib Daya, the Providence resident, told WJAR.
“I saw about two people getting carried away on the stretcher.”
Ariana Baio13 December 2025 22:58
Multiple people have been shot, Providence police say
The Providence police department said Saturday evening that “multiple” people had been shot in the area of Brown University.
Ariana Baio13 December 2025 22:53
Brown student evacuated building after hearing gunshots
Brown University student Katie Sun told the Brown Daily Herald, the school’s student newspaper, that she evacuated an engineering building after hearing gunshots around 4:10 p.m.
“It was honestly quite terrifying. The shots seemed like they were coming from … where the classrooms are,” Sun told the student newspaper.
Sun said she left all her belongings behind and ran to her dorm for safety.
Ariana Baio13 December 2025 22:50
Trump issues statement on shooting, says he has been briefed
On Truth Social, President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the shooting at Brown University and prayed for the victims and their families.
The president said FBI was on the scene and claimed a suspect was in custody – however, the school rescinded that previous update.
It’s unclear if the president had an update or incorrect information.
Ariana Baio13 December 2025 22:50
