News reports are still evolving, but there is some preliminary information about the suspected gunman. All of it is subject to change as the investigation continues and as formal charges are announced.
Identity and custody status
Multiple U.S. outlets report that a 24‑year‑old man named Benjamin Erickson, from Wisconsin, has been detained as a “person of interest” and is believed by authorities to be the shooter. Officials say he was taken into custody at a hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, where investigators also recovered firearms. Police and the Providence mayor have said they are confident he is the gunman, but at this point he is still described publicly as a person of interest rather than a convicted offender.
What is and isn’t known about him
Reporting so far indicates Erickson is in his early to mid‑20s and traveled from Wisconsin to Rhode Island before the attack, but authorities have not yet released a clear motive. Law enforcement sources say investigators are looking into his mental health history and any prior connection he may have had to Brown University, and one report notes that he is not believed to be a current Brown student. Officials have not publicly described any prior criminal record, ideological motive, or detailed background, stressing that the investigation is active.
Shooting context
The attack occurred around 4 p.m. on December 13, 2025, in a classroom in Brown’s Barus and Holley engineering building during final exams. Two students were killed and nine others injured, all reported to be Brown students, before the shooter left the scene and an intensive manhunt led to Erickson’s detention less than a day later.
