A person of interest who was detained in connection with a deadly shooting at Brown University in the US will be released shortly, local officials have said.
Providence Police Chief Col Oscar Perez stated that there was not enough evidence to prosecute the detained individual, with Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha noting that the evidence now points in a different direction.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are searching for additional video evidence that could help track down the actual suspect, as stated by the local mayor.
In the tragic incident, two people were killed, and nine others were injured when a gunman opened fire at the Ivy League university in Providence, Rhode Island on Saturday.
At a joint news conference, Col Perez mentioned that investigators did not believe the detained person matched the individual identified in the CCTV footage released on the day of the attack. Local media have opted to withhold the name of the individual who has since been released.
In the footage, the suspect is seen walking away from the scene wearing dark clothing. After the footage was made public, the FBI reported that a person of interest was taken into custody at a hotel based on a lead from Providence Police.
Col Perez further confirmed that officers were not searching for any additional suspects and were collaborating with prosecutors to gather evidence.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley provided updates at an earlier news conference, revealing that seven injured individuals were in stable condition, although one woman was in critical condition.
The gunman opened fire in a classroom around 4:00 PM local time at the Holley engineering building on Brown's campus. The identities of the deceased and most of the injured victims have not yet been made public, but Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed that all victims were students.
Amid the tragedy, the community has shown support. An alumna from Durham Academy, Kendall Turner, was reportedly injured in the shooting. The head of the school offered his thoughts and prayers for her recovery.
In an email update from the university, Prof Paxson noted that some areas of campus remained restricted as investigations were ongoing. Approximately 2,000 students were relocated to safe locations overnight, with many locals opening their homes for shelter.
The university President expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, emphasizing that while words may not suffice to ease their grief, the university community would extend all possible support.
As of Sunday, Mayor Smiley's order for residents to shelter was lifted, and he shared his experience meeting with victims' families in the hospital, expressing admiration for their strength and gratitude.
A vigil for the victims is scheduled for Sunday evening.
President Donald Trump also addressed the situation, wishing quick recovery to the injured students and extending condolences to the families of the deceased. This shooting marks the 389th mass shooting incident recorded in the US this year, as defined by the Gun Violence Archive.
