A shooter opened fire Saturday afternoon at Brown University, killing two students and injuring nine others after firing more than 40 rounds from a 9 mm handgun.
The gunman fled the scene, prompting an overnight manhunt that ended early Sunday when Rhode Island police took a person of interest into custody at a hotel. Authorities say no other suspects are being sought.
Of the nine wounded, seven are in stable condition, one is critical but stable, and one has been discharged.
Public officials and religious leaders condemned the shooting and offered prayers and condolences, including President Donald Trump, who publicly paid his respects to the victims and their families.
Trump also condemned the Dec. 14 Bondi Beach Hanukkah shooting in Australia, as well as the Dec. 13 ISIS attack that left two U.S. soldiers and one American civilian interpreter dead.
Police have taken a person of interest into custody after a shooting at Brown University Saturday afternoon left two students dead and nine others wounded.
FOX News reported that the shooter opened fire around 4 p.m. in an engineering classroom where students at the Providence, Rhode Island Ivy League school were holding a review session for their final exam. According to AP News, the gunman fired more than 40 rounds from a 9 mm handgun.
The alleged gunman left the building shortly after the shooting, according to surveillance video footage, prompting a manhunt throughout Saturday night that culminated early Sunday morning when Rhode Island police took a person of interest into custody at a Hampton Inn hotel about 20 miles from Providence, AP News reported.
The outlet additionally reported that Providence police said the person in custody is in their 20s. FOX News reported that authorities are not seeking any other suspects. No further details about the person have been released at this time.
According to FOX News, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said during a press conference early Sunday morning that seven of the wounded victims are in stable condition, one is in critical but stable condition, and one has been discharged.
The shooting prompted a lockdown across the university campus that was lifted Sunday morning. The university has canceled all remaining exams, classes, papers, and projects for the semester.
Providence Bishop Bruce Lewandowski responded to the shooting on X, saying he was “deeply saddened and troubled by the senseless shooting” and calling for prayers for all those affected by the violence. He also offered the diocese’s resources, clergy and personnel, and charitable assistance wherever it might be needed.
From Most Reverend Bruce A. Lewandowski, CSsR, Bishop of Providence:
— Diocese of Providence (@dioprovidence) December 14, 2025
“As are many, I am deeply saddened and troubled by the senseless shooting today at Brown University in Providence.
Let us unite in prayer for those who lost their lives, for the injured, for the Brown…
President Donald Trump likewise condemned the shooting, calling it a “terrible” situation during a press conference late Saturday night.
“All we can do right now is pray for the victims and for those that were very badly hurt,” he told reporters.
Trump spoke about the shooting again during a Christmas reception at the White House Sunday, saying “I want to just pay my respects to the people – unfortunately, two are no longer with us – at Brown University. Nine injured, and two are looking down on us right now from heaven.”
President Trump delivers remarks at the White House, paying respects to the victims of the shooting at Brown University, the antisemitic attack in Australia, & the attack on U.S. forces in Syria.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 14, 2025
"I pay my deepest regards & respects from the United States of America." pic.twitter.com/XWoCQ5Orin
He added, “And to the families of those two that are no longer with us, I pay my deepest regards and respects from the United States of America.”
Trump also expressed condolences to Australia, which on Sunday experienced a mass shooting that left 16 dead and dozens wounded, FOX News reported. The two shooters targeted a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, prompting Trump to denounce it as a “purely anti-Semitic attack.”
The president additionally referenced the Saturday killing of two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Syria and offered his regards to their families. As CatholicVote previously reported, Trump said the attack was carried out by ISIS and vowed “very serious retaliation” against the terrorist group.