Two students were killed and nine others were injured in a shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island, USA, on December 13, 2025. The incident occurred at the Ivy League school, where a suspect, possibly in his 30s and dressed in black, entered a building with a firearm while students were taking exams. The Providence University remained in lockdown for hours as authorities sought the suspect. The mayor, Brett Smiley, assured the public that there was no ongoing threat, but law enforcement agencies were conducting a manhunt, and a shelter-in-place order was issued for the campus and surrounding areas.
The shooting took place in the Barus & Holley engineering building, where the outer doors were unlocked during the exams. The suspect escaped after shooting students in a classroom. All or nearly all of the victims were students, according to Brown President Christina Paxson. Seven of the nine wounded were listed as critical.
The search for the suspect was complicated by the holiday season, with throngs of shoppers and event attendees. Federal law enforcement and police from surrounding areas assisted in the search. The Gun Violence Archive reports that mass shootings in schools, workplaces, and places of worship are more common in the US, which has some of the most permissive gun laws in the developed world. This year, the archive has counted 389 mass shootings in the US, including at least six at schools.
The incident has sparked reactions from students and community members. Brown sophomore Zoe Weissman, who has testified in support of an assault weapons ban, expressed shock and anger. She shared her experience as a middle schooler in Parkland, Florida, where a shooter killed 17 students and teachers in 2018. The President, Donald Trump, also briefed on the situation, called it 'terrible' and urged prayers for the victims.
This tragic event highlights the ongoing gun violence issue in the US, prompting discussions on gun control and public safety measures.
