Two Dead in Brown University Shooting, Manhunt for Gunman Continues

Tragedy Strikes Ivy League Campus During Final Exams

A deadly shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island has left two students dead and at least nine others wounded, with the majority in critical condition. The attack occurred on December 13, 2025, during final exam review sessions at the prestigious Ivy League institution, sending shockwaves through the academic community and reigniting national debates about campus safety and gun violence.

Campus Lockdown and Massive Police Response

The shooting took place in the Barus & Holley engineering building, where engineering design exams were underway. Police describe the suspect as a man in his 30s wearing dark clothing and possibly a gray camouflage mask. He was captured on surveillance footage near the attack site and remains at large despite an extensive manhunt involving over 400 officers from local, state, and federal agencies.

The entire campus has been locked down, with students sheltering in place for hours. 'We decided to turn off the lights and hide under the desks,' one student told local news station WJAR. 'We waited under the desks for about two hours before police escorted us out.' The hospital where victims are being treated has also been closed to visitors, with only emergency services remaining accessible.

Victims and Community Impact

All 11 confirmed victims are Brown University students. According to university officials, one student has been treated and released, six are in critical but stable condition, one is in critical condition, and one is in stable condition. Among the wounded is sophomore Zoe Weissman, who previously survived the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida.

University President Christina H. Paxson called it an 'unimaginably tragic day' and announced that all Sunday exams would be rescheduled. 'Our hearts are broken for the victims, their families, and our entire community,' Paxson stated in a campus-wide message.

Broader Context of Campus Violence

This incident adds to a troubling pattern of violence on American college campuses. According to BestColleges research, there have been approximately 385 instances of gunfire on college campuses since 2013, resulting in 111 deaths and 266 injuries. The deadliest incident remains the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre with 32 fatalities.

While mass killings in the United States have dropped to their lowest level in two decades in 2025, with only 17 incidents meeting the threshold of four or more people killed within 24 hours, campus shootings continue to traumatize academic communities. According to Newsweek analysis, this represents the fewest mass killings since national tracking began in 2006.

About Brown University

Founded in 1764, Brown University is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and a member of the prestigious Ivy League. Located in Providence's College Hill neighborhood, the university is known for its innovative Open Curriculum and has produced numerous Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and prominent public figures. The campus is typically considered one of the safest in the Ivy League, making this incident particularly shocking to the university community.

As the manhunt continues, questions are being raised about security protocols during exam periods and whether more can be done to prevent such tragedies. The incident has already prompted discussions about emergency alert systems, campus security measures, and the broader issue of gun access in the United States.

This developing story will be updated as more information becomes available about the suspect, the victims, and the ongoing investigation.