On December 13, 2025, Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, issued an emergency alert reporting an active shooter near the Barus & Holley Building (home to the Department of Engineering and Physics).
The alert, sent around 4:20-4:30 p.m., instructed the campus community to shelter in place, lock their doors, silence their phones, and follow the “Run, Hide, Fight” protocols.
Initial reports from sources such as the Brown Daily Herald and Providence Fire Radio mentioned potential multiple casualties (including unconfirmed claims of at least 20 people shot near Barus & Holley and MacMillan Hall), with videos showing people on the ground and a heavy police presence on streets such as Thayer and Hope.
The updates were contradictory in real time: some alerts briefly indicated that a suspect was in custody, while others corrected that no suspect was in custody and the search continued.
Law enforcement, including the Providence Police Department, responded quickly, securing the area during what appeared to be an ongoing final exam period.
The campus was immediately shut down as thousands of students, faculty, and staff sheltered in place, causing widespread fear and anxiety, especially during final exams.
The alert triggered panic, potentially causing trauma for those on campus; social media and initial news reports intensified the uncertainty.
The heavy emergency presence disrupted local traffic and affected neighborhoods near College Hill.
The incident dominated breaking news, highlighting ongoing concerns about gun violence on U.S. college campuses.
According to the latest available reports, as of December 13, 2025, the situation was described as developing, with no confirmed details on injuries, deaths, suspects, or resolution.
In the initial coverage, no official statement from Brown University or authorities indicating that the situation was “out of the woods” was widely disseminated.
This appears to be a very recent and ongoing incident, as of December 13, 2025, with limited verified information available.
Conflicting initial reports (e.g., regarding the suspect’s custody status) are common in rapidly evolving active shooter situations.
There is still no indication of a formal university “report” beyond the emergency alerts themselves, nor any definitive consequences such as casualties or motives.
If this turns out to be a hoax (similar to the swatting incidents at other universities in early 2025), the focus would shift to misinformation and response protocols, but current evidence points to a threat being treated as real.
