PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLS) — A massive manhunt is underway after a shooting left two people dead and eight others injured at a Brown University building on Saturday afternoon, officials in Rhode Island said.
Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley said the shooting, which happened at the school’s Barus & Holley building, was first reported at 4:05 p.m. local time.
An official briefed on the investigation told ABC News that preliminary information indicates that the shooting occurred in a engineering and physics building classroom, where a study group was taking place.
Six of the eight people injured are in critical but stable condition. One person is in stable condition while the eighth is in critical condition.
Rhode Island Hospital is on lockdown but is still accepting emergency department patients.
Smiley said no one is in custody, and a shelter-in-place order is in effect for the greater Brown University area.
Providence Police Department Deputy Chief Timothy O’Hara described the suspect as a male who was dressed in black.
Officials say it is unclear how he entered the building, but he exited it on the Hope Street side of the complex.
The university said they are working to determine who was in the building when the gunfire broke out.
Police are working with the FBI to track video from the area to try to find the suspect. Officials are also interviewing witnesses.
The school sent a message about the active shooter situation to its community through the BrownUAlert system around 4:20 p.m., telling students to shelter in place or avoid the area.
The alert directed students to “Lock doors, silence phones and stay stay hidden until further notice. Remember: RUN, if you are in the affected location, evacuate safely if you can; HIDE, if evacuation is not possible, take cover; FIGHT, as a last resort, take action to protect yourself. Stay tuned for further safety information.”
School officials, in another alert, and President Donald Trump, in a social media post, initially said a suspect was in custody, but later clarified that no one is in custody.
During a Saturday evening press conference, officials said there was an individual who was preliminarily thought to have been involved in the incident, but that person was later determined not to be involved.
A statement from the university also clarified that a report of another shooting near Governor Street was unfounded.
The gunshot victims’ identities were not immediately known. Officials did not immediately say whether they are students at the school.
Smiley added that the number of victims may change as officials gather more information. One official said first responders are still searching the any for possible additional victims.
No weapons have been recovered, and officials do not yet know what kind of firearm the suspect used.
Brown University police said there was no threat before the attack.
A family reunification center will be set up for 7 p.m., Smiley said.
The university’s president, Christina H. Paxson, sent a message to all students and faculty informing them about the details of the shooting and offering support.
“We know our community wants answers, and we will provide them as soon as we can. For now, please know we are doing all we can to keep our community safe and have mobilized support for the students and their families,” she wrote.
Speaking to reporters at the White House after the Army-Navy game, Trump said he has been “fully briefed” on the Brown University shooting, calling it a “terrible thing” and emphasizing the need to “pray for the victims,” whom he says “were very badly hurt, it looks like.”
“I’ve been fully briefed on the Brown University situation. What a terrible thing it is, and all we can do right now is pray for the victims and for those that were very badly hurt, it looks like,” Trump told reporters after de-boarding Marine One. “And we’ll inform you later as to what’s happening, but it’s a shame. Just pray. Thank you.”
The president did not have any further remarks and did not take questions before entering the White House.
Vice President JD Vance issued a statement to X, saying, “Terrible news out of Rhode Island this evening. We’re all monitoring the situation and the FBI stands ready to do anything to help. We’re all thinking of and praying for the victims tonight.”
ABC News contributed to this report.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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