A deadly shooting at Brown University has left students, staff and nearby residents shaken — and increasingly frustrated with what they see as gaps in campus security and a sluggish official response. Days after a masked gunman opened fire in a crowded engineering lecture hall during exam season, killing two students and wounding nine others, investigators are still searching for the suspect, raising questions about how the shooter vanished so quickly from one of the country’s most prestigious campuses.
Authorities initially detained a person of interest, but that individual was released without charges, leaving police with few solid leads. Investigators acknowledged that even basic steps such as canvassing nearby homes and businesses for security footage were still underway two days after the attack. The lack of usable surveillance video from the Barus and Holley building, where the shooting occurred, has fueled anger among students who expected better protection and faster results in what they describe as an era of constant surveillance.
Students say the university’s emergency alert system did notify them of an active shooter, but confusion followed during the prolonged lockdown. Some hid under desks with lights off, uncertain whether to open doors even when they heard police outside, unsure if the threat had passed. Others off campus said they received no alerts at all, learning about the unfolding violence only through texts from friends or news reports. Providence’s shift earlier this year from a mobile alert app to a web-based registration system has since come under renewed scrutiny.
The frustration has sparked student action. Hundreds have signed a petition demanding increased security, more cameras in academic buildings and clearer emergency guidance. Some students say they felt they were relying more on one another than on official systems for safety. Nearby residents echoed those concerns, describing visits from law enforcement asking for private security footage days after the shooting.
Police and FBI officials insist the investigation has never paused. They say the work is complex and methodical, involving bullet trajectory analysis and the reconstruction of the shooter’s movements. The FBI has released images of a masked suspect and announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, urging patience as every lead is pursued.
Experts say universities often face structural disadvantages when it comes to security, with campus police departments that are smaller, less resourced and sometimes hesitant to maintain a visible armed presence. That tension between openness and safety, they argue, can leave campuses vulnerable during fast-moving crises.
As Providence mourns the victims, including students remembered as vibrant members of the campus community, grief has mixed with anger and fear. For many, the tragedy has exposed uncomfortable questions about preparedness, communication and accountability — questions students say must be answered before a sense of safety can return to Brown’s campus.