Incident at Brown University Leaves Two Dead

Providence Police Chief Col Oscar Perez has announced the arrest of a person of interest linked to a shooting at Brown University that occurred on Saturday. The incident resulted in the tragic deaths of two students and injuries to nine others.

The shooting unfolded around 4:00 p.m. at an engineering and physics building on campus. The detained individual has been identified as 24-year-old Benjamin Erickson, as reported by a news outlet citing law enforcement sources.

The shooter, armed with a handgun, discharged multiple rounds before escaping the scene, leading to a search effort by authorities.

According to Army spokesperson LTC Ruth Castro, Erickson served in the U.S. Army from May 2021 until November 2024 without any deployments and left with the rank of specialist.

Perez confirmed that authorities are not currently pursuing any additional suspects in relation to the incident, stating, “We’re in the process of collecting evidence and seizing items that we need to seize, search locations that we need to search.”

As for the injured, at least one person has been discharged from the hospital, while another remains in critical condition, and seven others are stable but still facing critical conditions, according to Brown University President Christina Paxson.

Students who were present during the shooting shared their experiences. One student recounted how they huddled together in a darkened area, while another described the quick response of a security guard who warned everyone about the danger.

One student, Ben Marcus, expressed deep sorrow, mentioning the loss of a close friend, emphasizing her role in fostering dialogue and community on campus, saying, “We’ll really miss her.”

In light of the horrific events, Brown University has decided to postpone all academic activities for the fall semester indefinitely, focusing on the community’s safety and well-being.

President Donald Trump also expressed his condolences on Sunday, addressing both the victims of the Brown University shooting and those affected by a mass shooting in Australia. He stated, “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.”