PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Police renewed their search Monday for the gunman who killed two Brown University students and wounded nine others, after releasing a person of interest as evidence led them in a different direction.
The man was detained at a hotel about 20 miles from campus, but following the evidence review, authorities confirmed he was no longer considered a suspect. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley assured the public that there were no credible threats following the incident.
No current suspect in deadly shooting
The release of the person of interest has left law enforcement without a known suspect, prompting them to intensify their efforts in locating video surveillance that may capture the shooter’s identity. Attorney General Peter Neronha expressed urgency in the situation, stating, “We have a murderer out there.”
Witnesses have reported a shooting inside a classroom in the engineering building during final exams, with over 40 rounds fired from a 9 mm handgun. The investigation focuses on how the shooter entered the first-floor classroom.
During an extended lockdown following the shooting, students had to barricade themselves in classrooms while heavily armed police conducted searches on campus. One of the injured students has since been released from the hospital, with others in critical condition.
Brown University, a prestigious institution with around 7,300 undergraduates, has canceled all remaining classes and exams.
Community members gathered to honor the victims in a vigil that took place after the shooting, highlighting the resilience and courage displayed by the survivors. The investigation continues as search operations for the gunman are ramped up.
