🚨 BREAKING: Ivy League Nightmare – Gunman storms Brown University classroom during finals, kills 2 students, wounds 9 in bloody rampage.

Now the SHOCKING twist: Cops detained 24-year-old Army vet Benjamin Erickson – found with guns in a hotel room – but just HOURS ago, they RELEASED him saying “evidence points in a different direction.”

The real shooter is STILL ON THE LOOSE as campus mourns with vigils and canceled exams.

Was it a case of mistaken identity? Mental health crisis? Or something more sinister?

Chilling surveillance video, victim stories, and the frantic manhunt details that will leave you stunned… 👇

Brown University Shooting: Two Dead, Nine Injured as Manhunt Continues After Person of Interest Released

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A gunman opened fire inside a classroom at Brown University on Saturday afternoon, killing two students and wounding nine others during a final exam review session, prompting an overnight lockdown and a manhunt that extended into Sunday.

The shooting occurred around 4:05 p.m. on December 13, 2025, in Room 166 on the first floor of the Barus & Holley Building, home to the School of Engineering and Physics Department. The room was hosting a review session for a Principles of Economics course amid the university’s final exam week.

Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed in statements that all victims were students, with two fatalities and nine injuries. As of Sunday evening, hospital updates indicated varying conditions among the wounded, including critical cases.

Providence police and university alerts initially warned of an active shooter, leading to a campus-wide shelter-in-place order that lasted overnight. A brief alert about possible secondary gunfire near Governor Street was later retracted as unfounded.

Authorities recovered evidence suggesting the shooter fired over 40 rounds from a 9mm handgun, though the weapon itself was not immediately located at the scene. Surveillance footage released by police showed a figure in dark clothing walking away from the area along Hope Street.

On Sunday morning, law enforcement detained a 24-year-old man at a hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, approximately 15 miles from campus, identifying him as a person of interest. Multiple sources briefed on the investigation named the individual as Benjamin Erickson, a former U.S. Army infantryman originally from Wisconsin with recent ties to Washington, D.C.

Erickson served in the Army from May 2021 to November 2024, achieving the rank of specialist with no deployments, according to an Army spokesperson. His service included duties at Arlington National Cemetery and participation in ceremonial activities. Public records showed prior residences in Wisconsin and D.C., where he was registered to vote.

Officials recovered two handguns — including a revolver and a Glock with a laser sight — along with loaded magazines from the hotel room. Investigators examined potential connections to Brown University, including reports of planned enrollment for the fall 2025 semester and possible mental health concerns.

However, in a late Sunday press conference, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha announced the detained individual would be released, stating the evidence “now points in a different direction.” Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez and Mayor Brett Smiley echoed that the investigation remains active and complex, with the shooter still at large.

The reversal sparked community anxiety, though officials emphasized no immediate threat and urged continued vigilance. Classes, exams, and academic activities for the remainder of the fall semester were canceled, per announcements from Provost Francis J. Doyle III.

Vigils drew hundreds to campus and nearby Lippitt Memorial Park on Sunday evening, with flowers and candles placed outside the Barus & Holley Building. Community members expressed grief and shock, highlighting the rarity of such violence at the prestigious Ivy League institution.

Notably, at least two students present on campus during the incident were survivors of prior school shootings: one from the 2019 Saugus High School event and another from the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida.

The incident marks another addition to the tally of mass shootings in the U.S., with advocacy groups tracking hundreds annually. Federal agencies, including the FBI and ATF, assisted local authorities in the response and ongoing probe.

President Donald Trump offered brief condolences during public remarks, calling Brown a “great school” and extending regards to victims’ families.

As of December 15, 2025, identities of the deceased students have not been publicly released pending family notifications. Hospital officials at Rhode Island Hospital, affiliated with the university, managed the influx of gunshot victims.

The university has activated support resources, including counseling services, for affected students, faculty, and staff. Fellow Ivy League institutions and academic organizations issued statements of solidarity.

Investigators continue to appeal for tips from the public, reviewing additional surveillance and witness accounts to identify the fleeing suspect.

The Barus & Holley Building remained cordoned off as a crime scene into Monday, with limited campus access in place.

This tragedy unfolds against a backdrop of heightened discussions on campus safety and gun violence, particularly during high-stress periods like finals week.

Brown University, founded in 1764, enrolls thousands of undergraduates and graduates in Providence, known for its open campus layout integrating with the surrounding College Hill neighborhood.

Authorities have not disclosed a motive or confirmed any prior threats related to the incident.

The rapid detention and subsequent release of the person of interest underscore the challenges of fast-moving investigations in active shooter cases.

Community leaders, including Mayor Smiley, praised first responders while acknowledging the emotional toll on the city.

As the manhunt persists, Brown officials pledged transparency and support through the recovery process.