PROVIDENCE, RI — Providence, Rhode Island, authorities confirmed that a person of interest is in police custody after at least two students were killed and nine others were injured in amass shooting at Brown University.
"The people of Providence can breathe a little easier this morning," Mayor Brett Smiley told reporters at an early press conference in the New England city.
The shooting at the Ivy League University happened shortly before 4:05 p.m. on Saturday in an engineering building with unlocked doors as final exams were underway. Law enforcement worked well into the night to clear and evacuate school buildings and bring students to an established reunification center, The Providence Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network reported.
Brown University President Christina Paxson said all of the victims of the shooting were Brown students. Of the wounded, seven are in critical but stable condition. Paxson said authorities and university leaders have been in touch with the families of the deceased students.
Here's what we know so far:
Police responded to reports of an active shooter on Brown University's campus in Providence, Rhode Island on Dec. 13, 2025" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
An alert on Dec. 13 said to run from the Barus and Holley Building at 184 Hope Street near the university. Here is the building in an undated photograph." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Shots fired at Brown University: Photos show the scene
Police responded to reports ofan active shooter on Brown University's campusin Providence, Rhode Island on Dec. 13, 2025
FBI Director says agency assisting investigation
In a Sunday morning social media post, FBI DirectorKash Patelsaid law enforcement used cellular geolocation data to track the person of interest to a hotel room in Coventry, Rhode Island. The agency, Patel said, is continuing to work with local officials to investigate images and videos related to the incident, including by reconstructing the shooting scene.
"This FBI will continue an all out 24/7 campaign until justice is fully served," Patel wrote in his post on X. "Thanks to the men and women of the FBI and our partners for their continued teamwork. Please continue praying for the victims and their families - as well as all those at Brown University."
What happens next? Authorities describe search for suspect
Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez could not confirm many details during a Sunday morning press conference, but he said that next, law enforcement will coordinate with prosecutors, collect evidence and conduct interviews with eyewitnesses.
Police initially described the suspect as male, wearing all black and possibly in his 30's. Perez confirmed the description in the morning press conference.
Ted Docks, with the FBI Boston Field Office, commended local law enforcement and said that the collaboration was integral to developing a suspect and taking them into custody within 24 hours.
Police in Coventry, Rhode Island, confirmed that he was detained at around 3:45 a.m. on a hotel onCentre of New England Boulevard, but would not pinpoint which hotel.
The Centre of New England is a large commercial and residential development, with several hotels, as well as a Walmart, Home Depot and BJs.
Brown students react to shooting
Aviv Cohen, a pre-med sophomore at Brown, was in the midst of a physics final exam when he learned of the shooting. He described the night as "quite a surreal experience."
Cohen taking the exam in Solomon Hall, a block away from where the shooting took place, when people entered the room and explained what was happening and instructed the class to shelter in place. After an hour, law enforcement visited the room but instructed the students to stay in place, he said. Law enforcement kept them sheltered for at least 10 hours, Cohen said.
He returned to his dorm with friends after officials lifted the shelter-in-place order. When he heard the suspect was in custody, Cohen commented, "I feel like I am at least happy he is in custody. I think it means we are in a safer area."
University cancels all final exams
Paxson, president of Brown, told students in a Dec. 14th email that all remaining classes, final exams, papers and projects for the rest of the semester would be canceled.
"This choice was made out of our profound concern for all students, faculty and staff," Paxson wrote. "We know there is a long road ahead as students and families deal with the after effects of the events of the past day and the emergency that is still unfolding."
President Trump asks for prayers for Brown University victims
President Donald Trumpasked people to pray for the victims of the shooting at Brown University that left at least 2 dead and injured at least eight on Saturday.
"What a terrible thing it is!" he told reporters while leaving the Army-Navy football game in Baltimore. "And all we can do right now is pray for the victims and for those that were very badly hurt, it looks like."
Earlier in the day, Trumpposted on Truth Socialabout the shooting, saying he had been briefed and FBI officials were on the scene.
"God bless the victims and the families of the victims," the president wrote.
Shelter in place order lifted on Brown campus, surrounding area
Brown University announced in a 5:42 a.m. alert that the Providence police advised the university that the shelter in place order ended for the entire Brown campus.
However, police activity would continue in areas that are still considered an active crime scene.
"Be advised that access to these areas of campus continues to be limited. Within the police perimeter, including Minden Hall and nearby apartment buildings, community members who leave those buildings will be unable to return. It is important to follow instructions from law enforcement at all times," the alert stated.
Smiley said in a 7 a.m. press conference that the order has also been ended for everyone in the Brown area as well.
Buffalo Bills staying at hotel near Brown shooting
The Buffalo Bills are staying at a hotel in Providence, less than two miles away from where the shooting took place. The team is set to face off against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, at 1 p.m.
Bills' players and staff were safe inside the hotel Sunday morning. The team had sheltered in place overnight while a manhunt was underway in Providence, about 25 miles southwest of Foxborough.
According to areport from The Athletic, a sports news site, the Bills and Patriots have been in communication since the shooting occurred.
− Ryan Miller, USA TODAY Network
Is this the first shooting at an Ivy League school?
Yes,Brown Universityis the first Ivy League school in recent history with a mass shooting that led to multiple deaths.
USA TODAY, along with theGun Violence Archive (GVA), defines a mass shooting as an incident in which a minimum of four or more people are shot (injured or killed), not including the shooter, within a single event
While there have been isolated fatal shootings at severalIvy League colleges, including agun death at Harvard University in 2009anda 2021 killing of a Yale graduate student, there have been no active-shooter incidents with multiple fatalities.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Brown University shooting live updates: Person of interest in custody
