Brown University Shooting: Suspect Released
A 24-year-old man linked to the Brown University shooting has been released from custody, according to authorities who held an unexpected press conference late Sunday night.
Benjamin Erickson was apprehended at a Hampton Inn hotel near the university early Sunday. However, investigators have since determined he was not the suspect they were looking for.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha remarked that gathering evidence and pursuing leads immediately after the shooting, which resulted in two student fatalities and nine injuries, was quite challenging.
“This is how investigations unfold. Sometimes they take one path, and at other times they shift directions,” Neronha stated.
One lead led authorities to Erickson, who had only been referred to as a “person of interest.” Neronha mentioned there was “some evidence” linking Erickson, but emphasized that the investigation is “now moving in a different direction.”
Neronha added, “I think it’s fair to say there is no basis to consider him a person of interest now, so he’s released. There are still many steps needed in this case.”
While authorities didn’t formally name Erickson as a person of interest in custody, his name was shared with several media outlets, including the Post.
Neronha criticized those responsible for the leaks, acknowledging the difficulty of reversing such disclosures.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley pledged to enhance security around the campus, aiming to help the community feel “comfortable” as they attempt to regain a sense of normalcy after the tragedy.
Smiley also noted that there haven’t been any credible threats to Brown University since the shooting, which means there’s no need to reinstate the shelter-in-place order.
Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee mentioned he recently spoke with FBI Director Kash Patel, who is “committed to bringing federal resources to this case.”
The FBI has set up a tip line and is actively seeking additional video evidence of the suspect. They continue to believe the individual seen in footage released Saturday is the person they are trying to locate.
