Police responded to reports of an active shooter near an engineering and physics building on the Brown University campus in Providence during a busy finals week exam day.
UPDATE @ 5:47PM EST
An NBC News reporter posted a message on X stating that at least 2 people are dead and 20 injured.
BREAKING | NBC News: The scene at Brown University remains very active and it isn’t clear that a suspect is in custody as of 5:45pmET.
Three senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter say that at this stage of the investigation — and this may change — 2 are dead and…
— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) December 13, 2025
Additionally, President Trump posted that a suspect is in custody, but police have not yet confirmed this.
Original article:
PROVIDENCE, RI (1-minute read) — Police responded to an active shooter report at Brown University on Saturday, sending fear and confusion across campus as officers rushed to the scene near a major academic building.
According to the university’s alert system, the call focused on the area around the Barus and Holley building in the heart of campus. The seven story facility houses the School of Engineering and the Physics Department, containing more than one hundred laboratories, scores of offices and multiple classrooms where students and faculty work around the clock, especially during finals.
A suspect is not in custody.
Mass shooting reportedly happened tonight at Brown University, a gun free zone.
One report I saw stated the killer was wearing a mask but I haven’t seen other details outside of the information in the police scanner audio here.
Plan accordingly…#CityLife #Providence… pic.twitter.com/yKkdBaUfII
— Mrgunsngear (@Mrgunsngear) December 13, 2025
Police confirmed that multiple people were shot, but did not elaborate as the incident unfolds.
City spokesperson Kristy DosReis said information was still coming in from the active scene, which meant police and university leaders were cautious about releasing details too soon.
This is a developing story.
Safety Tip: Whether you are on a college campus or in any crowded public place, take a moment each time you enter a building to note exits, solid cover such as brick walls or large furniture, and the quickest routes to safety so that if an emergency occurs, you can move with purpose instead of freezing in panic.