On Saturday, December 13, 2025, “a winter afternoon at Brown University was shattered”

when gunfire broke out inside the Barus & Holley engineering building.Two students were killed and nine others wounded as “students and faculty fled hallways, barricaded rooms, and called for help.”

The gunman “fled on foot,” prompting a campus-wide lockdown and a large police response.

Brown canceled classes and expanded counseling as the campus mourned.

Vigils formed, and “candles, notes, and flowers appeared” outside buildings.

Law enforcement launched a major investigation with local, state, and federal agencies, reviewing surveillance and offering a reward, though “no immediate arrest was made.”

As the lockdown lifted, the university began recovery, holding safety discussions and supporting those affected while the investigation continues and the community works toward healing.