Brown University probe ‘progressing extremely fast’ after cops bust person of interest at hotel
The investigation into the deadly shooting at Brown University is moving “extremely fast,” police said Sunday, after a person of interest was taken into custody at a nearby hotel following an overnight manhunt.
Law enforcement officers moved in on a hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, around 3:45 a.m., detaining an individual believed to be in his 20s after an 11-hour search.
“It’s all hands on deck,” Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez Jr. told reporters as the investigation continued.
Perez praised the cooperation between local, state, and federal agencies, crediting that teamwork for the rapid progress in the case. “We work very closely with our federal partners and neighboring municipalities,” he said. “The detectives and officers of the Providence Police Department have done outstanding work, and that’s why we’ve been able to move forward so quickly.”
No charges have been filed against the person in custody so far, Perez confirmed.
Officials shared limited new details during an early-afternoon press conference, with Perez describing the case only as “complex.”
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley emphasized that investigators have not encountered any setbacks despite the lack of public updates. “We have not hit any roadblocks,” he said.
Authorities have not yet released the names of the victims, including nine people who were injured, as not all families have been formally notified.
Smiley also shared a poignant moment from a hospital visit with one of the wounded students on Sunday.
“One of the students who showed incredible courage told me, ‘You know, that active shooter drill they made me do in high school actually helped me in the moment,’” Smiley said. “That was both heartbreaking and, in a way, gave me hope.”
According to law enforcement officials speaking with the Associated Press, the shooter used a handgun and fired more than 40 rounds of 9mm ammunition after bursting into a classroom during an economics exam review session.
NBC News reported that the firearm had distinctive features that helped investigators link it to the attack.
Teaching assistant Joseph Oduro, who was leading the review session in the targeted classroom, said the gunman shouted something before opening fire and entering the room, though neither he nor the students could understand what was said.
“We heard what sounded like gunshots outside,” Oduro told CNN. “When he came into the room, we made direct eye contact.”
“I saw some things I wish I didn’t,” he added.
Oduro said a woman seated next to him was shot at least twice in the leg as he and others hid under desks in an attempt to stay safe.
“It honestly felt like an eternity,” he said, describing the moments between the shooter entering the classroom and fleeing the scene.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
