Emergency Information

Thursday, December 18, 11:33 p.m.

Dear Members of the Brown Community,

Tonight, the law enforcement agencies leading the investigation into Saturday’s shooting that devastated our Brown community announced that the suspect they identified in the case has taken his own life after being surrounded by police in Salem, New Hampshire.

Nothing can fully bring closure to the lives that have been shattered by last weekend’s gun violence. Now, however, our community has the opportunity to move forward and begin a path of repair, recovery and healing. I want to thank the dedicated city, state and federal law enforcement agencies that worked tirelessly on this case. We hope this brings an increased sense of safety for our community.

Law enforcement officials confirmed at a press conference that Claudio Manuel Neves Valente was identified as the suspect. Neves Valente was enrolled at Brown as a graduate student from Fall 2000 to Spring 2001, but he has no active affiliation with Brown and has not been affiliated with Brown since 2003. He was not a current student, was not an employee and did not receive a degree from the University, attending for only three semesters as a graduate student until taking a leave in 2001 and formally withdrawing effective July 31, 2003.

We recognize the profound anxiety and fear that members of our community and the surrounding region have experienced in recent days, and we hope this significant development provides some comfort, even as we continue to navigate the impacts of last weekend’s tragic violence. It is my hope that this news also will end the harmful and dangerous online targeting of members of the Brown community, arising from rampant and baseless speculation, some of it based on individuals’ ethnic origin, culture and religion.

In the aftermath of the shooting, we have seen harmful doxxing activity directed toward several students, faculty and staff, and multiple offices have been committed to providing support, while we also have worked aggressively to combat disinformation in online media and activity that has gone as far as to threaten individuals in our community. The safety of our community is and continues to be our top priority.

I am heartened by the manner in which this case demonstrates the wonderful ways Brown and Providence are closely linked as neighbors and as a community. Law enforcement confirmed that the tips and information provided by community members made it possible to identify the suspect. Our Brown and Providence community and the law enforcement community formed an essential partnership, and we are deeply and immensely grateful to our own Department of Public Safety, along with the Providence Police Department, the FBI, the Rhode Island State Police, the Office of the Rhode Island Attorney General, the ATF and the many other local and federal agencies that collaborated on this case over the past five days.

We know the public and our own Brown community members will want to know more about the deceased individual now identified by law enforcement as the suspect in last weekend’s shooting. We can confirm some details to the best of our knowledge, based on our review in the short time since law enforcement authorities made us aware of this development. We have provided this information to law enforcement as they build their case and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement as the investigation progresses.

Neves Valente was admitted to Brown's Graduate School to study in the Sc.M-PhD program in physics. During his time at Brown, Neves Valente was enrolled only in physics classes, and it is likely that he would have taken courses and spent time in Barus & Holley, where the vast majority of physics courses take place in classrooms and laboratories. Detailed records indicating where classes were held don’t extend back to 2001.

While Brown remains committed to searching all institutional systems to identify any pertinent information to assist law enforcement, we have thus far found no indication of any concerns pertaining to conduct or any public safety interactions during the short time Neves Valente was enrolled as a graduate student at Brown. As of yet, we have not identified any employee who recalls Neves Valente, nor is there any Brown record of recent contact between this individual and Brown.

We know that many members of our community will have additional questions, particularly about any motive in the terrible act of violence that stole the lives of two of our students and injured nine others. We will continue to partner with law enforcement to provide additional information in the days and weeks to come. It is important now that we allow our partners in the criminal justice system to do what they have the expertise and authority to do: investigate further as they deem appropriate. It is through this process that we will begin to understand more.

For now, we continue to support the family and friends of our beloved students Ella Cook and MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, and I am pleased to share that the condition of the other shooting victims continues to improve. Six are in stable condition, and three now have been discharged from the hospital.

We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone involved in the response to the violence that still weighs heavily on our full campus, with particular thanks to Mayor Brett Smiley, Governor Dan McKee and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. I appreciate the many dedicated professionals who are working to help restore a sense of safety for Brown and the Providence community.

I also am deeply grateful to everyone who continues to support all of those impacted by this terrible tragedy. This includes the staff and faculty from every corner of the University who have worked tirelessly for five days since rushing to campus on Saturday. We will never know and cannot possibly capture the full breadth of the countless selfless acts that continue to reflect who we are as a community at Brown — from staff providing shelter to students and helping reunite students with their families, to serving meals and rescuing belongings left behind during emergency evacuations, to offering embraces, consolation and solace. I continue to be deeply moved by colleagues stepping forward to help in ways that make all the difference in the well-being of a community still grieving but determined to be strong.

As we look ahead to healing and recovery, I am so proud of everything that makes us Brown.

Sincerely,

Christina H. Paxson
President

Wednesday, December 17, 4:49 p.m.

Email from Brown Vice President for Campus Life Patricia Poitevien and Dean of Engineering Tejal Desai to students, faculty and staff: Identification Documents, Interview Opportunities and Support Services at Alumnae Hall.

Wednesday, December 17, 4:11 p.m.

Dear Brown Parents and Families,

No parent should ever have to deal with what all of you are managing right now. I know you continue to be deeply concerned about the safety of your children, but just as much about the aftereffects of the weekend’s tragedy.

As our community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the unimaginable violence that took place last Saturday, I recognize that parents and family members understandably want to know more about campus operations and the support that is available for students through this incredibly difficult time. I want to reiterate that the safety and security of your students is our utmost priority. As the Department of Public Safety shared with you yesterday, we continue to work with local, state and federal law enforcement to significantly enhance safety measures and the public safety presence on campus.

Please know that the University is committed to providing you with updates as we support your students as we head into winter break. We are communicating regularly with students, but we understand that not all share campus communications with their families. With this in mind, I wanted to send you the letter below that I shared with our campus yesterday about the two students we lost in Saturday’s senseless attack. While it’s impossible to fully capture their immense promise and potential, I wanted to share more about who they were as we grieve their loss together as a community. At the bottom of the letter there is a list of resources we shared with students, faculty and staff for mental health, well-being and spiritual support. We will continue to update this list regularly. Soon, we are also planning to share additional resources with students and families, including information on how parents can best support their students during this difficult time.

As your students arrive home or prepare to return, their coping may take different forms. I know they will welcome your love and support.

Sincerely, 
Christina H. Paxson
President

Read the President's Letter: Mourning the loss of two beloved students

Monday, December 15, 8:09 p.m.

Dear Members of the Brown Community,

Given the deeply tragic events of recent days and the status of the ongoing investigation, we understand the fear and anxiety that so many Brown community members are feeling right now. Please be assured that the safety of our campus community remains our foremost priority.

Working with local, state and federal law enforcement, we are significantly enhancing our safety measures and public safety presence across the Brown campus — both on College Hill and in the Jewelry District. We are coordinating with external agencies and implementing new measures on an ongoing basis. We are writing to share information about these enhanced safety measures, remind our community of available resources, and outline steps you can take to support your own safety and that of others.

First, it’s important to note that every member of the Brown community can play an important role in protecting community safety and security by sharing information with police agencies, remaining vigilant and helping to care for fellow students, faculty and staff as we navigate this challenging time together. Part of that includes assisting in investigative efforts to the greatest extent possible — Brown leaders continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement partners as we seek to identify the person responsible for this horrific act of violence against our community, and we are asking community members to join together in this effort.

In particular, we ask that anyone who was in the Barus & Holley building on Friday or Saturday, Dec. 12-13, immediately contact the Providence police to arrange for an interview — even what seems like an incidental detail may ultimately be helpful in law enforcement’s efforts to protect our community. To contact Providence police, please email [email protected]. (Please include your name, contact information and location in the building, and which date you were in the building.)

We also want to share that reports circulating about additional hostile intruders or incidents of violence on or near campus have been unfounded. While the Brown Department of Public Safety and Providence Police received and responded to several calls about reported threats, each was immediately determined to be baseless. In each instance, law enforcement was on scene within minutes or seconds and found no credible evidence of any new or ongoing threat to the Brown community.

Unfortunately, as often happens following a tragedy, Brown has seen an increase in “swatting” calls — false reports of an active shooting or other similar events — that are designed to provoke a large police response. We recognize that, while the increased police presence can make some members of our community feel safe, it may also cause concern in light of the recent shooting. Please know that in any event that we learn of a credible threat, we will urgently make the community aware through the RAVE BrownAlert notification system.

Current Safety Measures

As Brown continues to participate in a coordinated mass security and safety effort, we have the following enhanced measures in place:

• Increased Security Presence: A strong and visible public safety presence will continue across the Brown campus, including College Hill and the Jewelry District. We have doubled staffing by Brown Department of Public Safety personnel, and we have a significant number of law enforcement and security personnel from multiple other agencies on campus. Community members may see police vehicles from numerous cities in and around local neighborhoods, and Allied Universal security teams are conducting ongoing patrols throughout campus.
• Restricted Building Access: Campus buildings will remain in restricted access mode until further notice. For buildings with Brown ID card access readers, entry is limited to individuals with authorized card access. For buildings that are currently key-access only, we will reach out directly to occupants or others who require access to provide specific instructions. For anyone whose Brown ID remains among their belongings within the police perimeter, visit the Card Office located in Page-Robinson Hall to secure a replacement card. A staff member is stationed at the Waterman Street entrance to assist individuals without a Brown ID in entering the building.
• Police Perimeter and Restricted Area: Providence police are maintaining an investigation perimeter encompassing a small number of facilities (these buildings remain a restricted access area): Barus & Holley, Prince Lab and the Engineering Research Center. Members of the campus community are not permitted to enter this area, as it is an active investigation scene secured by the Providence Police Department and partner agencies.
• Shuttle and Safety Escort Services: Brown’s shuttle and safety escort services continue to operate and remain available to support safe movement around campus, particularly during evening and overnight hours.

Stay Connected, Informed and Safe

We strongly encourage all community members to use the following tools and resources to stay safe:

• RAVE BrownAlerts: During critical events, Brown uses this system to deliver instructions to students, faculty, staff and others via phone, text and/or email. Be sure to review and update your contact information routinely to ensure you receive timely emergency notifications and important safety updates. Any member of the greater community — including parents and family of Brown students, or members of the RISD community, for example — who would like to opt-in to receive BrownAlert updates related to this incident should text BrownEmergencyList to 67283.
• RAVE Brown Guardian App: Download and use the RAVE Brown Guardian app, which allows you to send a personal safety alert directly to Brown’s Department of Public Safety and enables GPS location sharing so officers can respond quickly if assistance is needed.
• Brown.edu Website: Please continue to check the Brown.edu website for updates on the response and investigation into this incident. Additional information and communication resources are listed at the bottom of this communication.

Stay Vigilant and Report Safety Concerns

As always, please remain aware of your surroundings and report any suspicious activity or safety concerns immediately to the Department of Public Safety. If something feels out of place, trust your instincts and report it. Brown DPS can be reached at the following numbers:

• Brown DPS Emergency Contact: (401) 863-4111
• Brown DPS Non-Emergency Contact: (401) 863-3322

Police Investigation and Tip Line

The Providence Police Department remains the lead investigatory agency in response to the shooting on the Brown campus, and we are grateful for their continued efforts — along with those of multiple federal, state and local law enforcement partners — to identify the individual responsible. As this investigation remains ongoing, anyone with information related to the incident is encouraged to contact the Providence Police Department tip line at 401-272-3121. Community members also are encouraged to upload relevant video, photos and other media to an FBI website established for this investigation.

We appreciate your cooperation, vigilance and care for one another during this time. The Brown University Department of Public Safety remains fully engaged in and committed to maintaining a safe and secure campus environment for our community.

Sincerely,

Brown University Department of Public Safety

*******

Information and Communication Resources

• Brown continues to post all campus-wide emergency updates to the Brown.edu website.
• Messages from Brown’s president and provost are posted on their respective website.
• Campus Life is publishing messages to students on its Community Messages page.
• Additional messages about resources for employees will be posted to the University Human Resources announcements page.

Public Safety Resources

Brown University Department of Public Safety 401-863-3322

Providence Police Department 401-272-3121

Brown DPS Director of Advocacy, Engagement and Communication 401-863-2542

The Brown University campus community is always encouraged to take the following steps to keep yourself and others safe:

• Report suspicious behavior
• If you feel unsafe in any situation, trust your instincts and call Brown DPS at 401- 863-3322 or the Providence Police at 401-272-3121
• Please review the Brown DPS web page for additional safety awareness information and resources.
• For any emergency situation, dial 911.

Monday, December 15, 6:26 p.m.

BrownUAlert: The Providence Police Department has asked that anyone from Brown who was in Barus & Holley on Friday or Saturday, Dec. 12-13, arrange for an interview. Even an incidental detail may be helpful in investigating. To contact Providence police, please email [email protected] and include your name, contact information, and timeframe and location in the building. 

Sunday, December 14, 11:47 p.m.

Dear Brown Community,

Providence police announced late on Sunday night that they have released the individual they had detained in connection with the investigation into the shooting on the Brown campus on Saturday, Dec. 14, which claimed the lives of two Brown students and injured nine others. The Rhode Island Attorney General stated definitively in a news media event hosted by the City of Providence that “there is no basis” to consider the released individual a person of interest.

Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate, and local police have advised they do not believe there is any immediate threat to Brown or the local community.

As Providence police continue to lead this investigation, they have informed Brown that they are continuing their search efforts, which includes ongoing coordination with multiple agencies. There continues to be a heightened amount of local, state and federal police activity in the area as law enforcement continues to investigate and patrol with increased vigilance. The Department of Public Safety has more than doubled its staffing.

We know that this update may prompt numerous questions. This remains an active police investigation, and the University must defer to the Providence Police Department to release information as they deem appropriate. The police department has established a designated tip line for this investigation. Any individual with information that may be relevant to law enforcement should call 401-272-3121.

We continue to make every effort to ensure the safety and security of the campus. We are also advising every member of the Brown community to be vigilant in their own activities on campus.

Resources

• Brown University Department of Public Safety 401-863-3322
• Providence Police Department 401-272-3121
• Brown DPS Director of Advocacy, Engagement and Communication 401-863-2542

The Brown University campus community is always encouraged to take the following steps to keep yourself and others safe:

• Report suspicious behavior
• If you feel unsafe in any situation, trust your instincts and call Brown DPS at 401- 863-3322 or the Providence Police at 401-272-3121
• Please review the Brown DPS web page for additional safety awareness information and resources.
• For any emergency situation, dial 911.

Brown University Department of Public Safety

• Brown DPS Emergency Contact: (401) 863-4111
• Brown DPS Non-Emergency Contact: (401) 863-3322
   
• Providence Police Department: 9-1-1
• Providence Police Department: (401) 272-3121 

Sunday, December 14, 4:06 p.m.

Dear Brown Faculty and Staff,

As President Paxson has conveyed, this is a profoundly difficult and painful time for the entire Brown community. Our thoughts are with everyone affected. We strongly encourage all faculty and staff to prioritize their health and well-being. All managers are expected to be flexible and supportive of their team's health and well-being to the greatest extent possible. Please prioritize compassion, open communication and the immediate needs of your team members. Please remember that resources, including Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services, are available and were detailed in our earlier communications.

In the coming week, we are implementing temporary work guidance to give the Department of Public Safety, local law enforcement and Brown staff providing support services to the Brown community the ability to focus their resources on ongoing essential activities while serving fewer individuals on campus.

From December 15 through December 22, 2025:

• Brown remains open.
• Staff whose positions have been designated as essential because their responsibilities include services that must be performed on site will report to work. In addition, employees whose positions are not technically designated as “essential” but who are critical to time-sensitive research functions should consult with their manager/PI to determine how best to perform this necessary work while prioritizing safety and well-being.
• Non-essential staff who can do so may work remotely, unless directed to do otherwise by their managers. Subject to the above guidance regarding essential staff and essential functions, managers are encouraged to provide staff with the flexibility to adjust their schedules as needed to prioritize their well-being.
• At the same time, units will need to ensure sufficient coverage to support students in residence and daily operations, including the full range of student services and support.

Key university services remain in operation at this time. These include:

Dining

The Sharpe Refectory, the Blue Room and Josiah’s will operate on a normal schedule. All other units will remain closed. Please check the dining website for actual hours and days of operation.

Transportation Services and Shuttle Service

There will be no changes to transportation and shuttle services, with everything running on a normal schedule. For information concerning the operation of the Brown University Shuttle (BUS), please check the Transportation website or call 401-863-3157.

Parking

Some parking lots will be unavailable this week. Impacted parties should use the upper level of the Power Street (Lot 68). Brown’s parking lots will not be ticketed up to the Winter Break.

University Libraries

The Rockefeller Library will have limited hours and other library facilities will be closed. Please check the library website for updated details.

Brown Public Safety and Emergency Medical Services

Brown Public Safety and Emergency Medical Services are on patrol and available 24 hours a day. Report any emergencies at 401-863-4111.

Other University Services

For information about other University services, please refer to department websites.

We will continue to update the community with additional information as necessary. If you have not already done so, make certain your emergency contact information (personal cell phone and home or off-campus housing phone numbers) is up to date so that we can contact you as quickly as possible in the event of an emergency.

Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, loved ones, and the entire Brown University community during this deeply painful time. We are grateful to all first responders and law enforcement personnel for their immediate response and their ongoing work to ensure the safety of our community. We are especially thankful to our faculty and staff for your dedication, selflessness, and commitment to the well-being of our students, families, and campus community. Your care is truly inspiring.

Sincerely,

Marie Williams
Vice President for Human Resources

Sunday, December 14, 3:32 p.m.

Email from Brown Vice President for Campus Life Patricia Poitevien to students: Support for Students Who Lost Personal Belongings at Barus & Holley or Minden Hall.

Sunday, December 14, 3:08 p.m.

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

I'm writing with additional information regarding classes, exams and other academic activities for the remainder of the Fall 2025 semester. As we continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff in the wake of yesterday's tragic events, we must balance the importance of providing clear guidance on educational assessment with our responsibility to ensure the thriving of every member of our community.

After extensive discussion with academic and faculty leadership from across campus, we have decided to cancel all remaining in-person exams for Fall 2025 courses at all schools, with the exception of the Warren Alpert Medical School and the IE Brown Executive MBA program in the School of Professional Studies (SPS). Leadership at the Medical School and SPS will follow up shortly with those student populations to provide specific guidance. Other final assessments may have due date extensions (see details below).

Students in courses with work still outstanding have three options:

1. Students may elect to conclude the course and accept a final grade based on their work submitted prior to December 13, with no penalty for work originally due after December 13 that is not submitted.
2. Students may elect to retroactively change their grade option for the course to satisfactory/no credit (S/NC). Students who elect this option will receive a notation on their transcripts indicating that the change was made due to extenuating circumstances. The University is currently working with the Office of Information Technology to develop a mechanism to make this change. We will follow up with additional information within the next week.
3. In courses (residential, professional or online) with a previously assigned final paper, project or take-home exam, students may elect to complete and submit the work for a grade, whether that be for the originally selected grade option or the revised S/NC option.

Students must communicate their decisions about each of their courses by January 7, 2026. For each course in which students do not communicate their selections by this date, the student will receive a final grade in accordance with the grade option they selected earlier in the semester and based on work submitted prior to December 13.

For those who elect to submit previously assigned work, that work must be submitted to instructors by January 7, 2026.

All grades must be submitted by January 14, 2026. We will work with department chairs and deans to ensure that faculty have sufficient support to complete their grading by this deadline. Unless all final work is already submitted, faculty should refrain from entering final grades until the deadline for students to select their desired options (January 7).

Due to these extended deadlines, the Committee on Academic Standing (CAS)'s review for undergraduates will be delayed for the Spring 2026 semester. Students with questions about CAS review may contact [email protected].

We will send follow-up communications regarding Winter Session in the coming days.

For questions:

• undergraduate students should contact [email protected],
• doctoral and MFA students should contact [email protected],
• master's students should contact [email protected], and
• faculty should contact [email protected].

I am grateful for all that the members of our community have done and continue to do to support one another in the face of this tragedy.

Sincerely,

Francis J. Doyle III
Provost

Sunday, December 14, 1:03 p.m.

Email from Brown Vice President for Human Resources Marie Williams to faculty and staff: EAP Mental Health & Crisis Support for Faculty & Staff.

Sunday, December 14, 12:03 p.m.

Email from Brown Vice President for Campus Life Patricia Poitevien to students: Support and Resources for Our Community.

Sunday, December 14, 9:52 a.m.

Email from Brown President Christina H. Paxson to alumni and friends: Tragic time for our Brown Community.

Sunday, December 14, 8:47 a.m.

Email from Brown President Christina H. Paxson to parents and families: Campus operations after yesterday’s tragedy.

Sunday, December 14, 8:39 a.m.

Sharpe Refectory is now open to all students in need of food.

Sunday, December 14, 8:24 a.m.

Dear Members of the Brown Community,

I'm writing to follow up on President Paxson's update from a short time ago to provide additional information on academic operations for the campus. Given the deeply tragic events that took place on our campus yesterday, all remaining undergraduate, graduate and medical classes, exams, and papers or projects for the Fall 2025 semester will not take place as scheduled. This choice was made out of our profound concern for all students, faculty and staff on our campus. In the immediate aftermath of these devastating events, we recognize that learning and assessment are significantly hindered in the short term and that many students and others will wish to depart campus. Students are free to leave if they are able. Students who remain will have access to on-campus services and support.

At this time, it is essential that we focus our efforts on providing care and support to the members of our community as we grapple with the sorrow, fear and anxiety that is impacting all of us right now. University leaders are committed to providing care and mobilizing resources to assist our community members through this difficult time.

We know there will be many academic concerns about the implications of not holding classes and exams as scheduled. We will follow up with more information in the coming days. For the moment, we encourage everyone to focus on their own safety and well-being. We will continue to share updates with emergency information on Brown.edu, and to work directly with students and other community members to provide services and support.

Sincerely,
Francis J. Doyle III
Provost

Sunday, December 14, 8:15 a.m.

Dear Members of the Brown Community,

We continue to be in mourning as a community about the tragic loss of life from gun violence that stole the lives of two of our students yesterday, while one remains in critical but stable condition. My goal is for our community to work together to get through this difficult time and feel safe on our campus again.

I hope all members of our community saw the update sent through the Rave alert system early this morning that Providence police have advised the University that the shelter in place order has ended for our full campus. We want to thank law enforcement for their dedicated and extensive work overnight to provide safety to our community. They have shared publicly that police have identified and detained a person of interest in their investigation. Our Department of Public Safety partnered closely with law enforcement from the city, the state, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies, all of whom worked together with fierce determination so that we could have a measure of comfort through a devastating time for our community.

It is important to note that there continues to be limited access to some areas of campus as police continue to investigate yesterday’s shooting. There are areas that are still considered an active crime scene. For these areas within the police investigation perimeter, if residents decide to leave, police cannot allow them to return, so we are asking students and members of our community to consider carefully if there are any belongings you need to take with you if you leave any of these areas.

We continue to focus our full attention on caring for our community. Teams of Brown staff continued to work overnight to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students. We estimate that a couple of thousand students were transported overnight by law enforcement from areas across campus that were part of the police perimeter, and we prioritized getting those students to a place where they could rest and receive any necessary resources.

Any students that law enforcement escorted and transported to our evacuation site in the Olney-Margolies Athletic Center were relocated last night through early this morning and received food and a place to sleep. I am deeply moved by all the students who opened their homes and their arms to welcome friends into their dorms and other residences while we transported others to local hotels.

It is with some relief, but still a heavy heart, that I share that the status of many of the shooting victims in the hospital is stable. Seven of the students are in critical but stable condition, but as I noted, one remains in critical condition. Our prayers continue to be with them and their families. As we shared last night, one student was discharged from the hospital last night and left with their parents. And of course, we continue to support the families of the two students who died. There are not enough words of comfort for families who lose a child, but we will do all we can.

For our campus community who have questions about academic activities for this coming week, Provost Francis J. Doyle III will share an update shortly on academic operations for the campus. We continue to work with partners across campus to provide information about other campus operations and scheduled activities. With just over a week until Winter Break, many campus activities have already been winding down, and we will be considering the impact of these heartbreaking events in considering whether scheduled events should proceed.

Over the course of the next several hours, support offices across campus will also communicate as needed about updates to other operations, including how students who were escorted by evacuation sites will be connected to items they left behind. We are committed to providing resources for ongoing support.

We know that the stress of this situation will live with our community for hours and days and weeks to come. We will find ways to be in community with each other.

Sincerely,
Christina H. Paxson
President

Sunday, December 14, 5:42 a.m.

BrownUAlert: Providence police have advised the University that the shelter in place order has ended for the entire Brown campus. However, police activity continues in areas that are still considered an active crime scene. Be advised that access to these areas of campus continues to be limited. Within the police perimeter, including Minden Hall and nearby apartment buildings, community members who leave those buildings will be unable to return. It is important to follow instructions from law enforcement at all times. 

Sunday, December 14, 1:54 a.m.

BrownUAlert: Law enforcement officers continue to evacuate community members from administrative buildings inside the perimeter depicted on the map published at http://www.brown.edu (below). For all locations (inside and outside the perimeter), the shelter in place remains ongoing. Please see the president's email and Brown.edu for a message with additional details. 

Sunday, December 14, 1:53 a.m.

Dear Brown Community,

I know the passing hours of this emergency have been filled with stress and anxiety for many in our community. This is an unimaginably tragic day —a day that no university community is ever prepared for. While we prepare for major crises, we always pray this day never comes. This is a time for our campus to care for each other and support each other.

As we have moved into the early-morning hours, Brown remains under a shelter-in-place order, and I know that many members of our community have questions about what this means for them. I am writing to provide information, while recognizing that this still remains a fluid situation. I encourage all members of our community to continue watching RAVE alerts and the Brown.edu website for updates about this ongoing emergency.

While the shelter in place order remains in effect, students who are in residence halls should remain there. Sheltering in place at this stage means staying indoors. Students in off-campus residences are advised to remain there until the lockdown is lifted. Students who were in Barus & Holley or in other academic and administrative buildings within the perimeter established by police as part of the active police scene have been and continue to be evacuated by RIPTA buses provided by the City of Providence and Brown shuttles to our Olney-Margolies Athletic Center (OMAC). Students in OMAC are receiving specific instructions from staff on-site about remaining on-site or leaving the area, depending on whether their destination is within or outside the perimeter established by police.

Providence Police have advised that our campus must remain on lockdown. It is an active police scene, and the priority is to keep everyone safe. All members of the campus community will receive an alert notifying students, faculty and staff when the shelter in place order is lifted. Until then, we advise parents and families not to travel to the Brown campus. This is for their safety.

As we look ahead to the next 24 hours, faculty members who had exams scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 14, informed their classes Saturday evening that there will be no scheduled exams Sunday. More information about academic matters will be forthcoming on Sunday morning.

Non-emergency staff who were scheduled for an overnight shift were informed to stand down and informed that they should not report to work for their shift while the shelter-in-place order remains in place.

I can confirm that the nine members of our community who were transported to local hospitals are all students. And we lost two students to today’s devastating gun violence. Our hearts go out to them. This is a day of tremendous sorrow. No parent or family member should ever have to endure a day like this.

We learned from the hospital that six students remain in critical but stable condition. One student is in critical condition, another is considered in stable condition, and one was treated and released. Our full focus right now is on our community, their safety and providing support for the victims and their families. I am not able to share further information about the shooting victims at this time.

We have reached out to the families of all the students and are offering any support we can. I have spoken to some of them and expect to speak to others soon. We stand ready to give them anything they need.

I want to thank every member of our community for every kindness, shoulder to lean on, and gesture of support that I know will come in the hours and days ahead as we work together as a community to be there for one another.

Sincerely,
Christina H. Paxson
President

Saturday, December 13, 11:06 p.m.

BrownUAlert: Law enforcement agencies have established a perimeter around a portion of Brown’s campus, as depicted on a map published at http://www.brown.edu (below). Individuals already in residential buildings within the perimeter should continue to shelter in place there. Police will enter all administrative (non-residential) buildings within the perimeter marked by the red boxes on the map to escort all individuals to safe locations outside of the perimeter. All individuals inside administrative buildings within the perimeter should continue to shelter in place until law enforcement officers arrive. For all locations (inside and outside the perimeter), the shelter in place remains ongoing — unless escorted by a law enforcement officer, this means ensuring no movement across or near campus.

Saturday, December 13, 9:29 p.m.

BrownUAlert: The Brown campus continues to be in lockdown, and it is imperative that all members of our community remain sheltered in place. This means keeping all doors locked and ensuring no movement across campus. The law enforcement response remains ongoing. Safety is the utmost and essential priority.

Saturday, December 13, 8:28 p.m.

BrownUAlert: The Brown campus continues to be in lockdown, and it is imperative that all members of our community remain sheltered in place. This means keeping all doors locked and ensuring no movement across campus. The law enforcement response remains ongoing. Safety is the utmost and essential priority.

Saturday, December 13, 8:22 p.m.

Email from Brown President Christina H. Paxson to parents and families: A tragic day for our community.

Saturday, December 13, 7:38 p.m.

Dear Brown Community,

This is a deeply tragic day for Brown, our families and our local community. There are truly no words that can express the deep sorrow we are feeling for the victims of the shooting that took place today at the Barus & Holley engineering and physics building.

We lost two community members today who were fatal victims of the shooting, and at this point, we know there are at least eight additional victims who were transported to the hospital. In this moment, they are in critical but stable condition, but this is an evolving situation. Our hearts are with their families.

Our Department of Public Safety has been working closely with law enforcement and has been informed that the suspect is still at large and the situation remains active. We know this is a source of tremendous fear and anxiety across our community right now. While DPS was at one point informed that there was an individual in custody, that person was determined not to be the shooting suspect after questioning. Therefore, we urge all members of our community to remain vigilant. We continue to be in lockdown, and it is imperative that all members of our community remain sheltered in place. This means keeping all doors locked and ensuring no movement across campus.

We know our community wants answers, and we will provide them as soon as we can. For now, please know we are doing all we can to keep our community safe and have mobilized support for the students and their families. I encourage you to read the updates being provided via the RAVE alert system and Brown.edu website about this emergency. We are committed to providing updates as soon as information is available.

As we have shared in the alerts, law enforcement is actively working to identify the community members who lost their lives, and we are working with local hospitals to identify those transported for care. Even when we have that information, we may not be able to release it to our campus immediately. Whether or not you spend any time in Barus & Holley, I ask all students, faculty and staff to please be in touch directly with your families to let them know you are safe. They are worried about you.

This is a day that we hoped never would come to our community. It is deeply devastating for all of us. We are grateful to law enforcement for their immediate response and their ongoing work to ensure the safety of our community. Please continue to take all steps to be safe.

Sincerely,

Christina H. Paxson 
President

Saturday, December 13, 7:30 p.m.

BrownUAlert: Situation remains ongoing. Continue to shelter in place. Law enforcement remains on site.

Saturday, December 13, 6:33 p.m.

Brown Community,

We are providing an update to the active shooting situation. We are very sorry to share that we have confirmed reports of two deceased victims from the active shooting situation at the Barus & Holley engineering building.

There are eight additional victims in critical, but stable condition at the hospital. There remains a shelter in place order. The shooter or shooters still are not in custody at this time. Law enforcement is active in the area.

We know there is a lot of fear and concern and uncertainty in the community right now. Law enforcement is actively working to identify the deceased victims, and the hospital personnel also are working to identify those transported to the hospital.

As a reminder, please continue to take all steps to remain safe. Follow the instructions of law enforcement personnel and avoid the area. The safety of our community is foremost.

Any students or Brown community members who were in Barus & Holley at the time of the incident are being asked to contact police if they already have left Barus & Holley.  

Saturday, December 13, 6:10 p.m.

BrownUAlert: Active Shooter: The earlier report of a secondary shooting incident near Governor Street is unfounded. However, it remains critical to continue to shelter in place due to the original situation. Stay tuned for further safety information.

Saturday, December 13, 6:05 p.m.

At 4:22 p.m., we alerted our campus to an active shooter incident near Barus & Holley Engineering. We immediately informed our community to shelter in place by locking doors, silencing phones and staying hidden until further notice. We have been providing further information to our community as and when it becomes available, but this remains an active crime scene, and law enforcement continues to search for the suspect. The situation is ongoing, and all members of the community should continue to shelter in place.

We are very sorry to share that we have confirmed reports of multiple shooting victims, but we do not yet have information about their condition that we are in a position to share. They have been transported to local hospitals.

Our first priority is the safety of our community and coordinating closely with local law enforcement and medical personnel to ensure their safety. We are working immediately to determine who was in the building at the time of the shooting. We had multiple exams scheduled in that building from 2 pm to 5 pm. We can confirm that support services are on site. We have also relocated students to get support services at a secure location.

Senior administrative leaders from across the University are convened in emergency command to mobilize ongoing response and support for our community. We are establishing support for our community and families.

We have been and continue to be very grateful to law enforcement and emergency medical personnel. Please continue to take all steps to remain safe. Follow the instructions of law enforcement personnel and avoid the area.

Saturday, December 13, 5:52 p.m.

BrownUAlert: Urgent: Situation remains ongoing. Continue to shelter in place. Law enforcement on site.

Saturday, December 13, 5:27 p.m.

BrownUAlert: Urgent: Report of shots fired near Governor street. Continue to shelter in place. Stay clear. Law enforcement responding. 

Saturday, December 13, 5:11 p.m.

BrownUAlert: Urgent: Continue to shelter in place. Remain away from Barus & Holley area. Police do not have a suspect in custody and continue to search for suspect(s). Brown coordinating with multiple law enforcement agencies on site. Emergency medical on scene. Stay tuned for further safety information.

Saturday, December 13, 4:22 p.m.

BrownUAlert: 1st, Urgent: There's an active shooter near Barus & Holley Engineering. Lock doors, silence phones and stay stay hidden until further notice. Remember: RUN, if you are in the affected location, evacuate safely if you can; HIDE, if evacuation is not possible, take cover;  FIGHT, as a last resort, take action to protect yourself.  Stay tuned for further safety information.

How to ensure that you’ll receive emergency alerts

During emergency situations, the University will deliver alerts and instructions to Brown community members via mobile phones and other communications platforms. To ensure that Brown can reach you, students, faculty and staff should provide their mobile phone number for use during emergencies. Personal mobile phone numbers will only be used by authorized personnel for emergencies or official business.

To make sure your information is up to date:

• Brown students: provide your mobile phone number in Banner.
• Brown faculty and staff: provide your mobile phone number in Workday.