International news this weekend is dominated by a dramatic event in the United States, which resonates painfully even here in the UK. Just as students were preparing to celebrate the holiday season, Brown University, a prestigious institution of the Ivy League (a group comprising eight of the oldest and most renowned universities in the northeastern United States), became the scene of a violent attack. Here is a detailed analysis of the situation as the suspect remains actively sought by authorities.
Chronology of an Afternoon of Terror
Saturday, 13 December 2025, will remain a dark date for the city of Providence, Rhode Island. Right in the middle of the final exam period, shots rang out in the afternoon within the Barus and Holley building, a massive structure housing the physics and engineering departments.
According to official reports, the provisional toll is heavy: two people have lost their lives and nine others have been critically injured. The university president, Christina Paxson, emotionally confirmed that the ten victims struck by bullets were students. An eleventh person was also injured by fragments from the shooting.
The attack triggered an immediate emergency lockdown (a safety procedure requiring people to stay locked inside and take shelter). Students, such as Chiang-Heng Chien, told local media they had to hide under their desks for over two hours, waiting in anguish for the threat to be lifted.
A Large-Scale Police Manhunt
The most worrying aspect of this case remains the shooter’s escape. Timothy O’Hara, Deputy Chief of the Providence Police, described the suspect as a male dressed in black, possibly in his 30s, who is believed to have exited the university building to blend into the city. CCTV footage shows an individual wearing what appears to be a camouflage mask.
Authorities have launched a massive police manhunt mobilising all available resources, including federal agents from the FBI and the ATF. The search extended from the campus to the surrounding residential neighbourhoods, known for their historic brick homes. Law enforcement meticulously searched gardens, porches, and academic buildings late into the night.
However, locating the suspect has been complicated by the festive bustle. Providence city centre was crowded with thousands of people out for Christmas shopping or attending concerts, making the identification of the fugitive particularly difficult amidst the crowds.
Political Reactions and Impact on the Community
The shockwave quickly spread beyond state borders. From the White House, President Donald Trump stated he had been “fully briefed” on the situation, describing the event as “terrible” and calling for prayers for the victims. Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee lamented that “the unthinkable has happened.”
For the university community, the trauma is profound. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley highlighted the cruelty of the timing: “We are a week and a half away from Christmas… and two people died today.” He also noted that the building doors were unlocked due to ongoing exams, inevitably raising the question of campus security in universities open to the public.
Alex Bruce, a biochemistry student, testified to his fear upon seeing officers in tactical gear surrounding his dormitory from his window. “I’m just in here shaking,” he confided, illustrating the panic that seized the institution’s 7,300 undergraduate students.
As the manhunt continues, security has been reinforced throughout the city of Providence. This tragic event once again reopens the debate on gun violence in American schools. For our readers in the UK, it is a poignant reminder of the vulnerability of educational spaces, even the most prestigious ones. We will continue to follow the developments of this Brown University shooting and will provide updates as soon as the suspect is apprehended.
