Summary (tl;dr)

A mass shooting at Brown University's engineering building resulted in two student deaths and nine injuries, with a "person of interest," Benjamin Erickson, initially detained in Coventry, Rhode Island, and later released as the investigation shifted. One of the deceased victims has been identified as sophomore Ella Cook.

Essential Background

On Saturday, December 13, 2025, a gunman opened fire inside the Barus & Holley engineering building at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, during final exams. The attack led to an immediate lockdown of the campus and a widespread manhunt for the shooter. Two students were killed and nine others were injured, with seven remaining in critical but stable condition.

The Full Story

Following an 11-hour manhunt, law enforcement officials located and detained 24-year-old Benjamin Erickson of Wisconsin at a Hampton Inn in Coventry, Rhode Island, on Sunday, December 14, 2025. Erickson, a former U.S. Army infantryman, was identified as a "person of interest" in the shooting, and two firearms, including a Glock with a laser sight, were recovered from his hotel room. However, authorities later announced his release, stating the investigation had taken a "different direction," and they are still actively searching for the unidentified individual seen in surveillance footage. One of the students killed in the attack was identified as Ella Cook, a sophomore and Vice President of the Brown Republicans. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and Brown University President Christina Paxson have expressed profound sorrow and emphasized community support during this tragic event.

Why It Matters

This incident has deeply shaken the Brown University community and the wider Providence area, prompting concerns about campus safety and gun violence in the United States. The initial identification and subsequent release of a person of interest highlight the complexities of such investigations and underscore the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to bring the true perpetrator to justice. The tragic loss of life, particularly that of Ella Cook, has resonated widely, as has the trauma experienced by the injured students and the entire university community. The event also draws attention to the debate around gun control, as Rhode Island has some of the strictest gun laws in the U.S.

Geographic Location

• Barus & Holley engineering building, Brown University, Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, United States (shooting incident)
• Hampton Inn, Coventry, Kent County, Rhode Island, United States (detention and release of Benjamin Erickson)
• Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, United States (hometown of victim Ella Cook)