Authorities say they have identified a person of interest taken into custody following Saturday night’s mass shooting at Brown University, an attack that left two people dead and nine others wounded and triggered an overnight manhunt across Providence.
NBC News correspondent Tom Winter reported early Sunday that senior law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation identified the man in custody as Benjamin Erickson, born August 10, 2001.
Winter cited three senior law enforcement officials and reported that investigators are continuing to examine Erickson’s background, including whether he had any prior connection to Brown University.
According to The Washington Post, Erickson is a 24-year-old originally from Wisconsin who was taken into custody at a hotel approximately 15 miles from campus. Authorities have emphasized that he has not been formally charged and is being described only as a “person of interest.”
The Post further reported that investigators recovered two firearms from Erickson at the time he was detained, including one fitted with a laser sight attachment.
Saturday’s shooting unfolded inside Brown’s Barus and Holley engineering building during final exam preparations. As Legal Insurrection previously reported, witnesses described chaos inside the building as gunfire erupted and students fled.
Surveillance video released by police shows the suspect, dressed in black, calmly walking away from the scene, according to authorities cited in early reports.
The shooting prompted a massive law enforcement response involving local, state, and federal agencies. The FBI arrived on scene quickly, and campus officials issued shelter-in-place orders as police searched surrounding neighborhoods.
Authorities later confirmed that no additional suspects are currently being sought. The investigation remains active as officials continue reviewing surveillance footage, forensic evidence, and witness statements.
This remains a developing story.
UPDATE: 11:35 PM EST:
NBC is reporting that the “person of interest” is set to be released.
The person of interest detained earlier today in connection with the deadly shooting will be released shortly, Providence’s mayor said at a news conference late tonight.
Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee said officials contacted FBI Director Kash Patel ahead of tonight’s announcement.
Mayor Brett Smiley said, “The status of safety in our community remains unchanged, and we believe that you remain safe in our community.”
Police initially said they were confident the person of interest was the person who opened fire in a first-floor classroom at Brown’s Barus & Holley building yesterday before fleeing.
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