The quiet streets of Providence were shattered over the weekend as a mass shooting at Brown University left the community reeling.
With authorities still searching for the alleged shooter, residents and students alike are grappling with fear and uncertainty.
Federal and local law enforcement have offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, emphasizing that the suspect is considered “armed and dangerous.”
New Footage Released to Aid Investigation
Investigators recently released a short 19-second video showing a male suspect walking along Waterman Street near the campus around 4:06 p.m. on Saturday—the same time the shooting occurred.
Officials described him as a stocky 5’8” male.
Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez stressed the urgency of identifying the individual, urging anyone with information to call the tip line immediately.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha described the person in the footage as being of “significant interest,” adding that authorities are making progress.
Video evidence has reportedly been pouring in at an unprecedented rate, providing investigators with new leads.
Campus Security Measures Intensify
Even as public schools in Providence continued their regular schedule, all after-school activities and sporting events were canceled through at least Tuesday.
Colleges and universities across Rhode Island and beyond, including some Ivy League institutions, increased security measures.
Yale University, for example, announced heightened protection during its upcoming Hanukkah celebrations.
The attack sent shockwaves across the campus and surrounding neighborhoods.
Hundreds of law enforcement officers mobilized to search for the shooter, but questions remain about the effectiveness of campus security.
Li Ding, a Rhode Island School of Design student who is also part of a Brown dance team, expressed frustration: “The fact that we’re in such a surveillance state but that wasn’t used correctly at all is just so deeply frustrating.”
Confusion Over Previous Suspect
The FBI had earlier released a blurry clip of a shadowy figure, but the unclear footage drew widespread criticism.
Hours after the initial clip surfaced, the suspect in custody, identified as 24-year-old Benjamin Erickson, was released.
Authorities clarified that Erickson, an Army sniper from Wisconsin, is no longer considered a person of interest.
Attorney General Neronha confirmed, “We have a murderer out there,” highlighting the ongoing danger.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley acknowledged that the news would heighten anxiety among residents.
The shooter’s continued freedom has already triggered false alarms on the Brown campus and across Providence.
Community on Edge
Police investigated reports of an armed man at a mall in Warwick early Monday, but no confirmed threats emerged.
Students like Theo Coben, 19, a Brown sophomore who hid in a campus bathroom during the shooting, described the tension: “Everyone’s on edge.”
FBI agents have been meticulously searching the Providence area for evidence, sometimes combing through snow-covered streets to locate anything the suspect may have dropped.
As conservative journalist Eric Daugherty noted, the manhunt may still have a long way to go.
Remembering the Victims
While the investigation continues, the community is mourning the lives lost.
Ella Cook, 19, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, were remembered by family as bright, hardworking students.
One survivor, Kendall Turner, 19, remains in critical but stable condition after surgery Saturday night.
Families of victims continue to face the pain of loss while awaiting justice.
What’s Next?
Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward as the search continues.
With the alleged shooter still at large, residents, students, and families in Providence remain on high alert, hoping for a swift resolution to the ongoing crisis.
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