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News Update - Brown University Shooting

Second Person of Interest - Photo courtesy of Providence RI PD
Second Person of Interest - Photo courtesy of Providence RI PD

Manhunt Continues for Brown University Shooter Amid Growing Frustrations

On December 17, 2025, Providence Police Department officials, alongside Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, Brown University representatives, and Mayor Brett Smiley, held a press conference to update the public on the investigation into the December 13 mass shooting at Brown University's Barus and Holley engineering building. The attack left two students dead and nine injured during a voluntary study session. Five days in, no suspect has been named, no motive established, and the 9mm weapon remains unrecovered, intensifying public scrutiny.


Key announcements included the release of additional surveillance images and a map expanding the search area to a 10-block radius south of the campus into the Fox Point neighborhood. Authorities identified a second individual—seen in a short blue coat, light-colored hoodie, and carrying a tan bag—who was near the primary person of interest (a 5'8" stocky man in a dark hat, two-tone jacket, black pants, and medical mask) and may hold valuable information. Over 200 credible tips, including videos from security systems and dash cams, have been received, with hundreds of officers from nine agencies, including the FBI, involved. Chief Oscar Perez stressed the blend of technology and traditional policing, vowing, "That person is going to get caught. We’re not going to stop until we find them." Neronha justified withholding details like internal videos to avoid tainting witness accounts, confirming eyewitness descriptions match the person of interest. Brown Provost Francis Doyle addressed limited cameras in the older building, noting all footage has been shared but specifics withheld as "counterproductive."


Victim updates were positive: Six remain hospitalized (one critical but stable, five stable), with one discharged that day. Mayor Smiley warned against misinformation and directed the public to verified resources, while a $50,000 reward stands for tips leading to arrest. Brown has canceled the semester and set up a GoFundMe hub, with one fundraiser for injured student Jacob Spears exceeding $66,000.


Map of Search Area Released at the Press Conference

Map of Search Area - Photo courtesy of Providence RI PD
Map of Search Area - Photo courtesy of Providence RI PD

Despite assurances, criticism has mounted over perceived delays and incompetence. Among the many points of criticism, several were laid at the feet of Chief of Police Perez when he indicated that the he doesn't even have a complete list of all the students that were in the lecture hall at the time of the shooting and that many students had not even been questioned. This circumstance was even more stunning when it was disclosed that the campus has been closed early because of the shooting and that many students have now left the area.


Students and residents fault inadequate security, slow witness interviews, and faulty alerts from the city's web-based system. Social media erupted with accusations of mishandling, including a Reddit post calling out no alerts for hours and misplaced safety claims while the shooter remains free. Brown President Christina Paxson defended the university, blaming the shooter and affirming full cooperation, amid critiques from experts like CNN's Juliette Kayyem on delayed outreach. Community members like Julie DiBari decried wasted time on basic tasks, fostering distrust. Officials urged patience, with a follow-up briefing set for December 18.


Sources

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