Two people were killed on Saturday and eight critically injured in a shooting at Brown University, Brett Smiley, the mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, said.
Around 4:20 p.m., students at the university received a text message alerting them to a shooter on campus. The alert from the university directed them to lock doors, silence phones and stay hidden until further notice. It reminded them to run, hide or fight as a last resort to protect themselves.
Police said the incident occurred near an academic and research area on campus, and law enforcement officers were dispatched to the scene.
Contradictory information was circulating about the whereabouts of the shooter.
President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the shooting and that the suspect was in custody. Shortly after, Brown University said in an update to its emergency alert that the "situation remains ongoing."
A shooting takes place at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, U.S., December 13, 2025. /CMG
The reported shooting occurred near the Barus & Holley building, a seven-story complex that houses the university's School of Engineering and Physics department. According to the university's website, the building includes more than 100 laboratories, dozens of classrooms and offices.
Officials cautioned that information remained preliminary as investigators worked to determine what had occurred.
Police were actively investigating and still gathering information from the scene, said Kristy DosReis, the chief public information officer for the city of Providence.
Governor Dan McKee wrote on his X that, "We are actively monitoring the shooting at @BrownUniversity. Our teams at @RIStatePolice and @RhodeIslandEMA are working closely with local law enforcement. Please stay clear of the area and monitor official channels for updates. Praying for our community."
Brown is a private, nonprofit Ivy League institution with roughly 7,300 undergraduate students and more than 3,000 graduate students. Saturday was the second day of final exams for the fall semester.
(With input from agencies)
