On Saturday, December 13, 2025, a winter afternoon at Brown University turned chaotic when gunfire erupted inside the Barus & Holley engineering building. What began as a routine academic day quickly became a scene of panic as students and faculty “fled hallways, barricaded rooms, and called for help.” Police and emergency crews arrived within minutes.

By the time the building was secured, “two students had been killed and nine others wounded, several critically.” The injured were transported to nearby hospitals, while the gunman fled on foot. Brown activated a campus-wide lockdown, and students sheltered in place as authorities conducted sweeps and established perimeters.

As the lockdown lifted, the campus was left shaken. Candles, notes, and flowers appeared outside buildings, and counseling services were expanded. Vigils brought together students, faculty, alumni, and local residents to mourn the victims and support the injured.

Law enforcement launched a major inquiry involving local police, state authorities, and the FBI. Surveillance footage was reviewed, witnesses interviewed, and “images of a person of interest were released,” with a $50,000 reward offered. Investigators also explored a possible connection to a killing at MIT, though no link was confirmed.

Within Brown, discussions about campus safety, emergency preparedness, and mental health intensified. Additional security was deployed, and town halls were held as students coped with fear and grief. The university and city face a long road toward healing while continuing the search for justice.