The Brown University shooting in an engineering lecture hall killed two students and wounded nine, exposing gaps in campus camera coverage and prompting criticism of the slowness of investigative leads. Authorities released images of a masked suspect and offered a $50,000 reward while canvassing homes and businesses for footage. Students pressed for improved building security and clearer emergency communications as officials said the probe remains active and painstaking.
Brown University Shooting Prompts Criticism Over Campus Security and Pace of Investigation
Members of the FBI Evidence Response Team search for evidence near the campus of Brown University, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A mass shooting at Brown University’s Barus and Holley engineering building during a busy exam period left two students dead and nine others wounded, and has intensified scrutiny of campus surveillance, emergency communications and the speed of the investigation.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities initially detained a person of interest but released the individual without charges, saying the lead did not tie to the attack. With only limited and inconclusive surveillance footage recovered, investigators have returned to core groundwork: canvassing nearby homes and businesses for camera video, collecting physical evidence and painstakingly documenting bullet trajectories at the scene.
“We are asking the public to be patient as we continue to run down every lead so we can give victims, survivors, their families and all of you the answers you deserve,” FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks said, as the FBI offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to identification, arrest and conviction of the suspect.
Limited Camera Coverage And Campus Concerns
Although Brown’s campus has many cameras, coverage around Barus and Holley was sparse — in part because the building mixes older and newer construction, which left blind spots near the scene, officials said. Police and the FBI released photographs and video showing a masked suspect captured before and after the attack and urged anyone with tips or footage to come forward.
Students and community members expressed frustration with perceived gaps in surveillance and with communications during the multi-hour lockdown. Hundreds of students have signed a petition demanding improved security at campus buildings and clearer guidance during prolonged emergencies.
“The fact that we’re in such a surveillance state but that wasn’t used correctly at all is just so deeply frustrating,” said Li Ding, a Rhode Island School of Design student who performs with a Brown dance team.
Emergency Alerts And Community Impact
Providence recently replaced a city mobile app with a web-based emergency-alert system that requires online registration. Some residents said they received no alerts and relied on news reports and messages from friends. The change led to confusion for people who expected notifications through the former 311 app.
Those on campus described hiding in labs and debating whether to open doors while police were nearby. “While I was hiding in the lab, I heard the police yelling outside but my friends and I were debating whether we should open the door, since at that moment the shooter was believed to be (nearby),” said Chiang-Heng Chien, a doctoral engineering student.
Broader Security Questions
Experts note that many college security departments are smaller, less well-funded and less integrated with municipal police than city forces, which can complicate responses to active-shooter incidents. Terrance Gainer, a former U.S. Senate sergeant-at-arms, said campus agencies often avoid a heavy uniformed presence and may lack close partnerships with local law enforcement.
The investigation remains active with support from local, state and federal agencies. Officials continue to appeal for any video, photos or tips from the public that could help identify the shooter and clarify the sequence of events.
Reporting contributed by Associated Press writers in Providence, Washington and Boston.
