Brown University Shooting: FBI Offers $50K Reward as Manhunt Continues After Suspect Released

The manhunt continues for the gunman who killed two Brown University students and injured nine others in a mass shooting Saturday afternoon, with the FBI now offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's arrest and conviction. The shooting occurred just after 4 p.m. Saturday at the Barus & Holley engineering and physics building on the eastern edge of Brown University's campus in Providence, Rhode Island, during final exams. The gunman opened fire on approximately 60 people in a lecture hall before fleeing the scene. Two victims have been identified: Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, whose death was confirmed by the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan, and a second student whose name has not been released. Nine others were wounded, with seven remaining in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital as of Sunday, according to Brown University Health officials. The investigation took a dramatic turn over the weekend when authorities detained 24-year-old Benjamin Erickson, an Army veteran from Wisconsin, as a person of interest. Erickson was apprehended at a Hampton Inn in Coventry, approximately 15-20 miles from the university campus. Federal law enforcement sources revealed that investigators found a revolver and a compact Glock handgun equipped with a laser sight in Erickson's hotel room. Authorities had been examining his potential extensive history of mental health problems and any possible connection to Brown University. However, in a surprising development Sunday night, officials announced Erickson would be released from custody. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha explained that while some evidence had initially "pointed to" the person of interest, the evidence now "points in a different direction." "We have not yet solved this case, but I am confident we are going to do that in the near future," Neronha said during a late-night press conference. Providence Police Chief Colonel Oscar Perez defended the detention, stating, "We followed on a lead. And we followed on a specific lead... That's how investigations work. It's not a mistake. It's just how investigations work." The reversal has created fresh anxiety on campus and throughout the Providence community. While officials maintain there is no credible, active threat, the fact that no one remains in custody has heightened fears among students and residents. On Monday, authorities released new photos and video footage of a different person of interest captured in the area of Hope and Benevolent streets approximately two hours before the shooting occurred. Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez said the new evidence was retrieved around 2 p.m. on Saturday and believes it shows the same individual from previously released video footage. FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks emphasized that the killer remains "armed and dangerous" and urged the public to come forward with any information. The $50,000 reward requires information that leads to both the arrest and conviction of the shooter. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley acknowledged the community's frustration with the investigation's developments, saying the changing circumstances "speaks directly to the fact that this investigation was and continues ongoing." The shooting has shaken the Ivy League campus during what should have been a routine finals week. A shelter-in-place order that was initially issued for the school and surrounding community was lifted early Sunday morning. Authorities are asking anyone who recognizes the person of interest in the newly released video footage to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Providence Police Department at 401-272-3121. The investigation remains active as law enforcement continues their search for the actual perpetrator of this tragic mass shooting.