Brown University Shooter Remains at Large After Person of Interest Released

A massive manhunt continues across Rhode Island as authorities search for the gunman responsible for a deadly shooting at Brown University that killed two students and wounded nine others during a Saturday evening attack on the Ivy League campus. The shooting occurred at the Barus & Holley building, which houses the engineering and physics departments, during what authorities described as a final-exam study session. The gunman fired more than 40 rounds from a 9mm handgun before fleeing the scene, according to law enforcement officials. In a dramatic turn of events, a 24-year-old man from Wisconsin identified as Benjamin Erickson was initially detained as a person of interest following an 11-hour manhunt. Erickson, who served as an infantryman in the U.S. Army from May 2021 to November and has lived in Washington, D.C. since 2024, was arrested at a Hampton Inn in Coventry, Rhode Island, before dawn Sunday. However, authorities announced at a surprise late-night press conference Sunday that Erickson would be released from custody after determining there was no basis to keep him detained. "This is what these investigations look like. Sometimes you head in one direction, sometimes you regroup and go in another," Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said. The release represents a significant setback in the investigation, leaving law enforcement without any known suspect. Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee emphasized the state's commitment to finding the perpetrator during a Monday evening press conference. "We want to see the individual that pulled the trigger on these young kids identified, apprehended and brought to justice," McKee said. Authorities have released new video footage showing a person of interest walking briskly and alone on a sidewalk near the university campus in Providence. The footage, captured approximately two hours before the shooting, shows an individual wearing a mask and a dark two-tone jacket. The FBI describes the suspect as approximately 5 feet, 8 inches tall with a stocky build, though his face is not visible in any of the available footage. The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the person responsible for the attack. "We're asking for the public's assistance," Providence Police Chief Colonel Oscar Perez said at a news conference, urging anyone who might recognize the suspect to contact authorities. Law enforcement agencies have intensified their search efforts, with officers going door-to-door and scouring yards in search of video evidence or other clues that might lead to the gunman. The investigation has expanded beyond the immediate campus area as authorities work to piece together the suspect's movements before and after the attack. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley has reassured the public about safety measures while acknowledging the ongoing threat. "We are not recommending at this time a new shelter-in-place. We do not feel it is necessary," Smiley said, noting that police had not received any credible threats since the shooting. However, he confirmed that police presence would be increased in and around Providence and the Brown campus. The attack has raised questions about campus security at the prestigious Ivy League institution. A makeshift memorial with flowers and candles has been established outside the Barus & Holley engineering building as the Brown University community grapples with the tragedy. Authorities continue to urge the public to submit any videos or information that could aid in the investigation, emphasizing that even seemingly minor details could prove crucial in identifying and apprehending the suspect who remains armed and dangerous.