Man detained after Brown University shooting released

Local News

Two students were fatally shot and nine people were wounded Saturday afternoon during a final exam at the Ivy League university in Providence, Rhode Island.

The person of interest detained in connection with the deadly mass shooting at Brown University Saturday has been released, officials said at a press conference late Sunday night.

Two students were fatally shot and nine were wounded Saturday afternoon during a final exam at the Ivy League university in Providence, Rhode Island.

A 24-year-old man from Wisconsin, whose name was leaked to the press, was reportedly detained at a hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island as a person of interest early Sunday morning. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said Sunday night he “needs to be and should be released.”

“There was some degree of evidence that pointed to this individual, but that evidence needed to be corroborated and confirmed, and over the last 24 hours, leading into just very recently, that evidence now points in a different direction,” Neronha said.

The gunman fired more than 40 rounds from a 9 mm handgun in a classroom in the Barus & Holley building, which houses the School of Engineering and physics department, The Associated Press reported. 

Police released surveillance footage showing a person of interest dressed in black, calmly walking away from the scene. Col. Oscar Perez, Providence chief of police, said the person in the video — walking the corner of Hope and Waterman streets — is still a person of interest. 

Officials declined to share information about the tip that brought in the person of interest or what evidence ruled him out.

“We have a murderer out there, frankly, and so we’re not going to give away the game plan,” Neronha said.

While no suspect is in custody, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said officials “have not received any credible or specific threats to the Providence community.”

Officials said they are looking for additional video evidence in addition to the 11-second video of the person of interest rounding a corner.

“There just weren’t a lot of cameras in that Brown building, is the reality,” Neronha said. “We’re going to go out and find whatever evidence we can to solve this case as quickly as we can. I mean, we’re not holding back video that we think would be useful.”

The victims have not been publicly identified, pending family notifications, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said previously. Sophomore Ella Cook was one of the students who was killed, her Alabama church confirmed.

Anyone who might have video or information about the shooting can submit tips to fbi.gov/brownuniversityshooting.

Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime, and more.