Brown University experienced a mass shooting on campus during final exams in mid-December 2025, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. The event triggered a large law-enforcement response, campus lockdowns, and the suspension of academic activities for the remainder of the term.
Incident overview
On December 13, 2025, a gunman opened fire inside the Barus and Holley engineering building, where a review session for an introductory economics class was taking place. Two students were killed and nine others were wounded, making it the first mass shooting at an Ivy League university.
Campus response
The university issued an emergency shelter‑in‑place alert within minutes, instructing students and staff to seek secure locations while police searched campus buildings. A reunification center was set up and large numbers of local, state, and federal officers responded to secure the area and assist those affected.
Academic and community impact
Brown’s leadership cancelled all remaining classes, exams, papers, and projects for the rest of the fall semester to prioritize safety and mental‑health support. Counseling and support services were expanded, and other universities and scholarly organizations publicly expressed solidarity with the Brown community.
Status of suspect
Authorities identified and detained a person of interest in connection with the shooting within about a day of the attack. Police activity extended into nearby Providence areas, and an earlier campus‑wide shelter‑in‑place order was lifted after the situation was brought under control.
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