In a major development following the mass shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, officials have confirmed that a person of interest has been detained.
The Saturday night shooting left two students dead and at least nine others injured. Law enforcement officials, including the Providence Mayor, Rhode Island Governor, Police Chief, and FBI, held a press conference to provide critical updates on the investigation.
The Custody Breakthrough: Evidence Details
Authorities confirmed they detained a person of interest in the early hours of the morning. Law enforcement sources indicated they feel “fairly confident” that this individual is the person responsible for the attack.
The breakthrough hinged on a crucial piece of evidence:
- Unique Weapon Characteristic: The individual was taken into custody with a gun that possessed a “unique characteristic” that witnesses had previously reported to the police.
- No Further Threats: At this time, police are not looking for any other individuals in connection with the shooting.
- Motive/Terrorism: Officials stated there is currently no indication of a nexus to terrorism.
Unprecedented Interagency Collaboration
Providence Police Chief Colonel Oscar Perez credited the swift progress to the seamless cooperation among agencies, calling the effort “all hands on deck”.
The round-the-clock investigation involved:
- Providence Police
- The FBI
- Rhode Island State Police
- Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the DEA
The collaboration ensured that investigators quickly picked up on leads and tips, leading to the detention within 24 hours of the horrific event.
Victims and Campus Recovery
The shooting occurred inside a final exam review for a principles of economics class.
Here is the status of the casualties:
- Fatalities: 2 students killed.
- Wounded: 9 injured individuals.
- 7 Stable: Seven remain in stable condition.
- 1 Critical: One remains in critical but stable condition.
- 1 Discharged: One individual has been released from Rhode Island Hospital.
Shelter-in-Place Lifted: With the person of interest detained, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed that the city and Brown University have lifted the shelter-in-place order.
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