Providence, Rhode Island, 14 December (H.S.): A gunman dressed entirely in black unleashed chaos at Brown University's Barus & Holley Engineering Center on Saturday, killing two individuals and critically wounding eight others during final exams, as authorities mounted an expansive search across the Ivy League campus.
Assault Unfolds Amid Academic Rigor
The violence erupted around 4:22 p.m. on December 13 inside the seven-story facility housing engineering and physics labs, where students sat for design exams scheduled from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed the fatalities and noted eight victims—six in critical but stable condition—rushed to Rhode Island Hospital, cautioning that casualty figures might evolve.
Deputy Police Chief Tim O'Hara detailed the lone assailant fleeing onto Hope Street, prompting a shelter-in-place order for campus and nearby neighborhoods that lingered into the evening.
Chaotic Alerts and Retracted Custody Claims
Brown's emergency system initially alerted at 4:22 p.m. of an active shooter, later claiming a suspect in custody before retracting: one detained individual proved uninvolved after questioning. Providence police, FBI Boston, and state agencies coordinated sweeps of buildings, eyewitness interviews, and video analysis, with no arrests by nightfall.
University Provost Frank Doyle emphasized identifying those present during the attack, as federal resources bolstered evidence response and victim aid.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
