Law enforcement officials in Providence, Rhode Island, are intensifying their search for a suspect involved in a shooting at Brown University. The shooting occurred over the weekend, resulting in the deaths of two students and injuries to nine others. Witness descriptions of the shooter match images released by the police of a person of interest, leading investigators to seek further information from the public.
Police Pursue Brown University Shooter
As the investigation enters its fifth day, authorities have mapped out the streets where the person of interest was confirmed to be present on the day of the incident. Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez emphasized the need for public assistance in identifying an additional individual who was seen near the person of interest. This person was spotted at the corner of Benevolent and Cooke streets.
Public Alert and Safety Measures
During a press conference, Chief Perez urged the public not to rely on artificial intelligence-generated images circulating on social media. He stressed that updates will come exclusively from the police department’s official channels. Meanwhile, no significant items, including clothing, have been recovered during the investigation.
Victims’ Status and Hospital Updates
According to Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, two of the injured have been treated and released from the hospital. One individual remains in critical but stable condition, while five others are stable. The ninth victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigation Details and Video Evidence
- A person of interest was captured on video approximately two hours prior to the shooting.
- The individual, seen wearing a face covering, was walking around the East Side of Providence.
- Police are particularly seeking footage that shows the suspect entering a vehicle or building post-incident.
The FBI has announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the gunman. The agency provided a timeline showing the movements of the person of interest from around 2 p.m. until shortly after 4 p.m. when the shooting took place near Hope and Benevolent streets.
Campus Security Under Scrutiny
In light of recent events, Brown University has been reevaluating its campus security measures. The institution acknowledged that while it has an extensive network of security cameras, coverage is not comprehensive across all areas. As a response, heightened security has been implemented on campus, and a systematic security review is underway.
Authorities continue to encourage anyone with information to reach out, emphasizing that even small details may prove crucial to the ongoing investigation.
