An active shooter providence alert triggered urgent safety warnings Saturday as law enforcement responded to a shooting near Brown University, prompting shelter-in-place instructions for students and staff and a large public-safety response around the campus area.
Authorities confirmed that multiple people were shot. As of today, officials have not publicly released a verified total number of victims, detailed conditions, or a confirmed motive. Investigators continued working to establish exactly what happened and to locate whoever was responsible.
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Where the incident was reported
The first university alerts identified the area near the Barus & Holley Engineering building, a busy part of campus that also serves as a study and academic space. The incident unfolded during Brown’s final exam period, when many students were on campus.
Brown officials stated they were working to determine who was in the building at the time of the shooting and noted that multiple exams had been scheduled there during the afternoon.
Shelter-in-place and campus safety measures
After the initial reports, the university issued urgent guidance directing people to shelter in place. Students and staff were told to lock doors, silence phones, and remain hidden until further instructions.
During active law-enforcement operations, those directions are designed to reduce risk while officers secure buildings, clear rooms, and search for potential threats. People in the area were also urged to avoid the campus vicinity as police activity intensified.
Confusion over custody status
Early communications publicly suggested a suspect might have been in custody. That information was later corrected, and reporting later indicated there was no confirmed suspect in custody at that time.
Because rapidly evolving scenes can produce conflicting early reports, the most reliable updates are typically the later, corrected statements from officials as they verify details. As of today, the publicly confirmed reporting reflects that the situation required an ongoing search and active investigation.
Report of additional incident near Governor Street addressed
During the response, a separate report circulated about a possible secondary shooting near Governor Street. A later university safety update said that earlier report was unfounded.
Even so, the larger response remained focused on campus-area safety and the continuing investigation into the confirmed shooting near Brown.
Medical response and support for students
Emergency medical personnel responded to the scene alongside law enforcement. Brown stated that support services were on site and that students were relocated to a secure location to access help.
In incidents like this, universities often activate counseling and crisis-response resources, coordinate reunification steps for students, and work with public safety agencies to share verified instructions as conditions change.
What remains unconfirmed
As of today, several key details have not been publicly verified in a way that can be stated as fact, including:
- The exact number of people injured
- Whether any fatalities occurred
- The identity of the suspect or suspects
- A confirmed timeline of events beyond the initial alerts and response window
- A confirmed motive
Officials typically release these details only after next-of-kin notification, evidence review, and investigative steps that ensure accuracy.
What residents and the public should do
If you are in Providence and receive emergency alerts related to this incident or any ongoing public-safety operation:
- Follow instructions from local authorities and campus safety officials
- Avoid restricted areas to keep routes open for police and medical response
- Use verified channels for updates and do not amplify unconfirmed claims
For families and community members, monitoring official university and local public safety updates can help reduce confusion created by early, conflicting reports.
The investigation continues, and officials are expected to provide additional confirmed information as it becomes available.
