On Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, a masked gunman opened fire in a first-floor classroom in the Barus & Holley building at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, killing two undergraduates and wounding multiple others. Authorities say video from the surrounding College Hill neighborhood shows a man they believe was casing the area earlier that morning around 10:30 a.m., and they have released enhanced images seeking public help with identification. The FBI and local law enforcement have deployed personnel and resources to support survivors and to process large volumes of footage, while students and residents remain anxious as the search continues. Officials have not determined a motive and emphasize that the investigation is active.
Key Takeaways
- The shooting occurred Dec. 13, 2025, in the Barus & Holley building on Brown’s campus; two students were killed and at least eight others were injured.
- Police say a 9 mm handgun was used and released surveillance images showing a masked male in dark clothing; the FBI describes him as about 5 ft. 8 in. with a stocky build.
- Authorities found video suggesting the suspect was in the College Hill neighborhood around 10:30 a.m. the same day, appearing to case the area.
- The FBI dispatched nearly 30 victim specialists, agents and analysts to Providence to assist survivors and families.
- An earlier person detained on an anonymous tip—a 24-year-old Wisconsin man—was released after investigators found no link; officials called him cleared.
- The FBI’s Boston field office has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to identification, arrest and conviction of the shooter.
- Brown canceled remaining semester obligations and surrounding schools increased visible security; some private schools briefly closed out of caution.
Background
Brown students were preparing for final exams and winter break when the shooting occurred, intensifying shock and disruption across campus. The Barus & Holley building houses engineering and physics departments and includes portions built at different times; state officials said cameras were sparse in the older section where the attack took place. Campus safety debates—already present at universities nationwide—have resurfaced here, with students and families questioning both on-campus and neighborhood surveillance coverage. Local leaders have highlighted the scale of the response, noting collaboration among Providence Police, Rhode Island state police, and federal agents as they comb large volumes of footage and tips.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and Gov. Dan McKee emphasized stepped-up visible patrols to reassure commuters, parents and schoolchildren while investigators pursue leads. Brown University moved quickly to suspend classes, exams and graded work for the remainder of the term, citing trauma and safety concerns. The incident has strained the city’s sense of security; residents and students report heightened anxiety and calls for more robust safety planning at educational institutions. Investigators have cautioned that high volumes of data and shifting leads are typical of complex, active probes and urged patience from the public.
Main Event
According to witness accounts, shortly after 4 p.m. EST on Dec. 13 a masked man carrying a handgun entered a first-floor classroom in Barus & Holley and opened fire during an exam review session. A teaching assistant described hiding behind a desk with about 20 students while those seated nearer the room’s middle rows had greater difficulty evading shots. Providence Police later said the firearm was a 9 mm handgun. Campus security and city police responded to emergency calls and initiated a shelter-in-place order while searching the building and adjacent streets.
Investigators subsequently reviewed neighborhood surveillance video and released enhanced stills showing a person in dark clothing, hat and a surgical-style mask in the College Hill area earlier that day—around 10:30 a.m.—whom they say may have been casing the location. Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez said his teams are working through ‘terabytes of data’ to find even brief moments that could aid identification, and he asked community members to check personal footage. The FBI Pacific and Boston offices joined local authorities; officials said nearly 30 victim specialists, agents and analysts were deployed to assist survivors and families.
On Sunday, following an anonymous tip, police detained a 24-year-old Wisconsin man at a Coventry hotel; he was released later that day after investigators found no evidence linking him to the attack. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha and other officials stressed that such developments are routine in active investigations that pivot as new information emerges. Meanwhile, Brown released limited information on the injured to protect privacy while identifying the two students killed: first-year student MuhammadAziz Umurzakov and sophomore Ella Cook.
Analysis & Implications
The shooting highlights vulnerabilities at older campus buildings that may lack modern surveillance and access controls; authorities noted cameras were limited in the older section of Barus & Holley where the attack occurred. That gap complicates identification and reconstruction efforts and may intensify calls for targeted investment in campus security infrastructure balanced against privacy concerns. For universities, the event revives debates over how to deploy cameras, manage building access, and communicate rapidly and transparently with students and families during crises.
For law enforcement, the case illustrates the operational challenge of processing massive digital evidence streams under public scrutiny and political pressure. Officials must balance the need to share images that could generate leads with preserving investigative integrity and civil liberties. The deployment of federal victim specialists signals federal support for trauma-informed victim assistance, which can shape survivors’ recovery and influence public perceptions of the response.
Politically and socially, the shooting is likely to sharpen legislative and administrative conversations around campus safety, mental-health supports, and gun policy—though motive remains unknown, and policymakers will face competing views on effective measures. Locally, higher visible policing aims to restore confidence, but some community members express frustration over perceived gaps in proactive prevention. The medium-term effect may include new working groups or inter-institutional safety reviews, as officials have indicated a desire to coordinate statewide university presidents and public-safety leaders.
Comparison & Data
| Measure | Dec. 13 Incident | Nearby Campus Baseline |
|---|---|---|
| Fatalities | 2 | — |
| Injuries | At least 8 | — |
| Weapon | 9 mm handgun (reported) | — |
| FBI specialists deployed | ~30 | — |
| Reward offered | $50,000 | — |
The table summarizes confirmed, reported figures tied directly to the incident. While national campus-violence statistics vary by year and institution, this event’s immediate human toll and the scale of the investigative response place it among the most acute campus shootings in recent New England memory. Quantitative comparisons are limited until official after-action reviews or aggregated data from law enforcement and public-health agencies are published.
Reactions & Quotes
Local and institutional leaders voiced sorrow and a pledge to support victims while urging cooperation with investigators. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley emphasized the community impact and increased patrols to reassure residents and school families.
“It is going to be hard for my city to feel safe going forward. This has shaken us.”
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley (public official)
State and federal officials described the investigative posture and resources being applied; the FBI highlighted support for survivors and families.
“We have almost 30 victim specialists, special agents and analysts deployed to Providence to support survivors and the loved ones of the victims.”
FBI Special Agent Ted Docks (federal law enforcement)
Brown University leadership framed the loss as the extinguishing of promising young lives while noting privacy protections for the injured.
“These were two young people whose amazing promise was extinguished too soon.”
Brown University President Christina H. Paxson (university official)
Unconfirmed
- Motivation for the shooting has not been established; investigators have not released any verified motive.
- The identity of the person shown in released images has not been confirmed despite enhancements and public appeals for tips.
- Reports about other potential accomplices or additional weapons are unverified and have not been corroborated by law enforcement.
Bottom Line
The Dec. 13 shooting at Brown University left two students dead and many traumatized, and it exposed investigative and security challenges tied to older campus infrastructure and limited camera coverage. Law enforcement has prioritized evidence collection, public appeals, and victim support while cautioning that active inquiries often produce shifting leads. The FBI’s involvement and a $50,000 reward underscore the seriousness and federal support for the probe, but key questions—most notably motive and suspect identity—remain unanswered.
For the community, the immediate focus is on support, clear communication and measured security steps; for policymakers and campus leaders, the incident will likely catalyze review of surveillance, access control and rapid-response protocols. Readers should watch for official updates from Providence Police, the FBI and Brown University as investigators release verified findings and potential next steps in the case.
Sources
- PBS NewsHour (news report)
- FBI Boston Field Office (federal law enforcement)
- Brown University News (official university statement)
- Reuters (news reporting including police images supplied to media)
- Associated Press (news)