It was supposed to be a quiet Saturday afternoon of stress-eating and frantic studying. Instead, the Brown University campus was plunged into a nightmare that has become all too familiar in American academic life.
On Saturday, December 13, 2025, just as students were settling in for their fall final exams, the calm was shattered by the ping of a terrifying text message: "Active Shooter. Barus and Holley. RUN, HIDE, FIGHT."
If you are a parent, a student, or just a concerned citizen scrolling through the headlines this morning, the confusion is palpable. Reports have flipped back and forth—suspect in custody, suspect at large, safe, unsafe. We are here to cut through the noise with the confirmed facts, the timeline, and the reality of what happened yesterday in Providence.
The Incident: What We Know
At approximately 4:05 PM EST, the Providence Police Department received the first 911 calls reporting shots fired at the Barus and Holley Engineering Building, a seven-story hub of classrooms and labs located near Waterman and Thayer streets.
This wasn’t a drill, and it wasn’t one of the "swatting" hoaxes that have plagued universities earlier this year. This was real.
According to Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and university officials, the situation escalated rapidly:
4:22 PM: Brown University issued its first campus-wide alert, instructing everyone to shelter in place.
4:45 PM: Police swarmed the engineering complex. Students inside described a scene of absolute chaos, with many barricading doors with desks and chairs—a skill that, tragically, this generation has had to learn alongside calculus and chemistry.
5:27 PM: Additional reports of shots fired near Governor Street appeared, though these were later determined to be unfounded echoes of the panic.
The Human Toll
It is with a heavy heart that we report the confirmed numbers provided by city officials late Saturday evening. Two individuals have lost their lives, and eight others are in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital.
Mayor Smiley, visibly shaken during his press briefing, stated:
"Sadly, today is a day the city of Providence and the state of Rhode Island prayed would never come."
While the identities of the victims have not yet been released pending family notification, the community is already mourning. These were people taking exams, finishing projects, and living their lives. It’s a stark, brutal logic: safety is never guaranteed, even in the ivy-covered halls of higher learning.
The Suspect: "In Custody" vs. "At Large"
Here is where the "fog of war" caused massive confusion.
In the initial hour, major news outlets and even university alerts suggested a suspect was in custody. Social media sighed in collective relief. However, that report was incorrect.
As of Sunday morning, the suspect remains at large.
Providence Deputy Police Chief Tim O'Hara clarified that the police are hunting for a male subject dressed in all black. He was seen exiting the Barus and Holley building on the Hope Street side shortly after the shooting.
Why the confusion?
In the age of Twitter (now X) and Truth Social, information travels faster than verification. A "person of interest" detained for questioning was likely mistaken for the shooter by onlookers, leading to the false "all clear." This is a critical lesson for all of us: in a crisis, wait for the official correction.
Campus Reaction: "We Just Froze"
The psychological toll of an event like this is immediate. Alex Bruce, a senior biochemistry student, told reporters he was working on a final project across the street when the sirens began.
"You hear the sirens and you think, 'Okay, maybe a fire alarm,'" Bruce said. "Then the phone buzzes. And you see 'Active Shooter.' And for a second, your brain just rejects it. It’s illogical. You’re just trying to pass a biochem exam."
Inside the library and dorms, the "Run, Hide, Fight" protocol kicked in. Video footage circulating on social media showed the surreal contrast of tactical police units moving past tables covered in open textbooks and half-drunk iced coffees.
It’s a grim irony of modern student life: one minute you are worried about your GPA, the next you are worried about your survival.
Official Responses and Politics
The response was swift, extending from Providence to the White House.
University Response: Brown University remains on lockdown as of early Sunday morning. All final exams scheduled for Sunday and Monday have been postponed. The administration has urged students to contact their families but to remain indoors.
Federal Involvement: The FBI is currently on the scene, assisting local authorities with the manhunt and forensic investigation.
Political Reaction: President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he had been briefed, initially praising the capture of the suspect before later clarifying that the manhunt was ongoing.
Safety and Next Steps
If you are in the Providence area, specifically the East Side near the university:
Stay Inside: The shelter-in-place order is serious. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous.
Verify Information: Do not spread unverified rumors on social media. Stick to official channels like the Brown Department of Public Safety (DPS) or the Providence Police Department.
Mental Health: If you are a student or parent affected by this, do not "tough it out." The university is mobilizing counseling resources. Trauma doesn't always hit you in the moment; it waits until the adrenaline fades.
Conclusion
As the sun rises over a quiet, terrified campus today, the focus shifts from panic to the manhunt and mourning. We are reminded once again that the sanctuary of a university campus is fragile.
We will update this article as confirmed details about the suspect and the victims become available. For now, check on your friends, hug your loved ones, and stay safe.
