Two folks had been killed and eight had been wounded after a shooter opened fireplace at Brown College on Saturday afternoon in a constructing the place exams had been going down, in keeping with Windfall, Rhode Island, Mayor Brett Smiley and college officers.
A large manhunt was underway for the gunman, described as sporting all black — and the group within the Ivy League campus’ space was urged to proceed sheltering in place.
Regulation enforcement officers stroll close to an entrance to Brown College in Windfall, R.I., on Dec. 13, 2025, throughout the investigation of a capturing.
Steven Senne/AP
“The unthinkable has occurred,” a somber Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee advised reporters, pledging help for native authorities and the households of the victims.
What we all know concerning the capturing
The tragedy unfolded round 4:05 p.m. when police acquired a name from Brown College about an lively shooter incident close to the Barus & Holley engineering and physics constructing on the campus. The college alerted college students and college to shelter in place shortly after.
“There’s an lively shooter close to Barus & Holley Engineering. Lock doorways, silence telephones and keep hidden till additional discover,” the discover stated.
Emergency personnel collect on Waterman Road at Brown College in Windfall, R.I., on Dec. 13, 2025, throughout the investigation of a capturing.
Mark Stockwell/AP
Windfall Police Division Deputy Chief Timothy O’Hara stated investigators are working to find out who was within the constructing on the time of the capturing.
“We had a number of exams scheduled in that constructing from 2 pm to five pm,” the college stated within the assertion.
Through the press convention, officers stated they might not affirm whether or not the capturing passed off in a classroom or hallway.
Law enforcement officials and first responders collect at Waterman St. and Thayer in response to a capturing, in Windfall, R.I., throughout studies of a capturing, on Dec. 13, 2025.
Jen McDermott/AP
An official briefed on the investigation advised ABC Information that preliminary data signifies that the capturing occurred in a classroom the place a examine group was going down.
The deputy police chief stated it was unknown how the suspect acquired into the constructing however he was seen by eyewitnesses escaping on foot by the Hope Road exit.
O’Hara stated he couldn’t present details about the firearm that was used within the capturing, and stated the weapon was not instantly recovered.
‘Deeply tragic day for Brown’
As of seven:50 p.m. the wounded victims had been being handled at Rhode Island Hospital, which was additionally beneath lockdown and never admitting new ER sufferers, in keeping with hospital officers.
All sufferers had been admitted in crucial however steady situation however later within the night, one affected person was upgraded to steady whereas one other was listed as crucial, the hospital stated.
In a letter to the college group, the college’s president, Christina H. Paxson, didn’t determine the victims or their connection to the college however referred to as them “group members.”
Regulation enforcement officers carry rifles on a avenue in a neighborhood close to Brown College in Windfall, R.I., Dec. 13, 2025.
Steven Senne/AP
“It is a deeply tragic day for Brown, our households and our local people,” she wrote within the letter. There are actually no phrases that may specific the deep sorrow we’re feeling for the victims of the capturing that passed off at this time on the Barus & Holley engineering and physics constructing.”
Campus stays in lockdown
Hours after the capturing, the campus space remained on lockdown and college students had been advised to maintain doorways locked and never transfer across the campus.
“We all know our group needs solutions, and we’ll present them as quickly as we will,” the college president stated. “For now, please know we’re doing all we will to maintain our group secure and have mobilized help for the scholars and their households.”
Emergency personnel collect on Waterman Road at Brown College in Windfall, R.I., on Dec. 13, 2025, throughout the investigation of a capturing.
Mark Stockwell/AP
She ended her letter, writing: “It is a day that we hoped by no means would come to our group. It’s deeply devastating for all of us.”
President Donald Trump stated he was briefed concerning the capturing, and stated the FBI was on the scene.
“What a horrible factor it’s, and all we will do proper now’s pray for the victims and for those who had been very badly damage,” Trump advised reporters later Saturday night. “It is a disgrace.”
The state of affairs remained fluid, with the college later clarifying key particulars concerning the incident.
The college initially posted an replace shortly after the capturing, saying a suspect was in custody, earlier than later saying that was not the case.
The mayor stated that there was initially a person who was “preliminarily regarded as concerned,” however authorities later decided that individual was not a suspect.
Emergency personnel collect at Hope and Waterman Streets at Brown College in Windfall, R.I., on Dec. 13, 2025, throughout studies of a capturing.
Mark Stockwell/AP
At about 5:30 p.m., the college stated there was a report of a secondary capturing a couple of blocks away from the engineering constructing close to Governor Road, however the college later stated that report was unfounded.
Investigators urged anybody with data associated to the capturing to name the police.
-ABC Information’ Youri Benadjaoud and Emily Chang contributed to this report.
