President Donald Trump said he has been briefed on the shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where at least two people were killed, and eight others were critically injured Saturday afternoon.
“I have been briefed on the shooting that took place at Brown University in Rhode Island. The FBI is on the scene. The suspect is in custody. God bless the victims and the families of the victims!” Trump wrote at 5:44 p.m. on Truth Social.
However, Trump walked back his statement just moments later after university police reversed their earlier report. “The Brown University Police reversed their previous statement — The suspect is NOT in custody,” he posted at 6:03 p.m. on his social media platform.
The Context
Gun violence remains a primary public safety concern, especially after several high-profile shootings this year including the assassination of Democratic Minnesota House Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband in their home; the shooting at the Annunciation Catholic Church on the first day of school in Minneapolis that killed two children; the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah; and the shooting at a Michigan Mormon church.
Mass killings in the country dropped to their lowest level in two decades in 2025, but political violence and school shootings continue to prompt heavy debate over gun control.
What To Know
The shooting erupted Saturday afternoon at the seven-story Barus & Holley building, which houses Brown University’s School of Engineering and physics department. Saturday was the second day of final exams for the fall semester.
Two people were killed, and eight others were injured in critical but stable condition, according to Providence Mayor Brett Smiley. Officials did not say whether the victims were students, and Smiley stressed that this information could change as the investigation continues.
Officers were hunting through campus buildings and sifting through trash cans more than three hours after the shooting. The mayor said a person preliminarily thought to be involved was detained but was later determined to have no involvement.
University officials initially told students and staff that a suspect was in custody before later saying that was not the case, creating confusion that was reflected in Trump’s initial Truth Social post.
What People Are Saying
Brown University in a statement posted on the school’s website, in part: “Our first priority is the safety of our community and coordinating closely with local law enforcement and medical personnel to ensure their safety. We are working immediately to determine who was in the building at the time of the shooting. We had multiple exams scheduled in that building from 2 pm to 5 pm. We can confirm that support services are on site.”
“We have been and continue to be very grateful to law enforcement and emergency medical personnel. We have relocated students to get support services at a secure location,” officials added. “Please continue to take all steps to remain safe. Follow the instructions of law enforcement personnel and avoid the area.”
FBI Director Kash Patel on X: “FBI personnel are on the scene and assisting this evening after the shooting at Brown University and we will provide all capabilities necessary. Please pray for all those involved. We will update with more information as we are able.”
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said during Saturday’s press conference: “Today is a day that the City of Providence and the state of Rhode Island prayed would never come. We’ve heard about horrific acts of gun violence and active shooter situations in other places, but not here. But this afternoon, at four o’clock in the afternoon, we received a call, four oh five was when the initial call came into Brown University of a report of an active shooter. I can confirm that there are two individuals who have died this afternoon, and there are another eight in critical status, those stable at Rhode Island Hospital. Those are the only injuries or casualties that we know at this time. But as I mentioned, and it’s important to remind folks, these numbers may change.”
Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee said during Saturday’s press conference: “The unthinkable has happened. And I’ve been in touch, as the mayor said, to make sure that all the resources that we have, whether it’s the EMA, our state police, Department of Health, which we’ve been in contact with as well, are responding in a way that is being helpful as possible. We’ve been in contact with the White House as well. Our office has been in contact with the White House. So, we will bring all our resources to the table. I’ve been in touch with Governor Healy as well as other governors who have experienced the same tragedy. So our thoughts go out to those who have been impacted by this in any way, and we’ll continue to provide the assistance to the to the authorities here in Providence as well as statewide and continue to make sure that we are doing everything we can to help the families that are you know that are suffering right now.”
What Happens Next
Governor McKee declared that he has implemented a “full state mobilization” after the mass shooting.
The investigation remains in its very early hours, with Mayor Smiley cautioning that some details may be subject to change. The FBI is on scene assisting local law enforcement. Police continue searching for the suspect, who was last seen leaving the area on foot dressed in black.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
