A manhunt is under way after two students were killed and nine other people were injured in a mass shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. The gunman opened fire in a classroom at around 16:00 local time on Saturday, in a building where exams were taking place.
The university, one of the oldest and most prestigious in the US, was placed into lockdown as police searched for the gunman, who remains at large. Students in parts of the campus are continuing to be told to shelter in place until police can escort them out of the area.
Officials from Rhode Island Hospital said most of the injured are in a critical but stable condition. The identities of those killed or injured have not yet been released by officials.
On the shooting, Brown University President Christina Paxson stated, This is a day that we hoped never would come to our community. It is deeply devastating for all of us. Police have released limited information about the male suspect, including an identity or motive. It is not known if he has links to the university.
CCTV footage showed the suspect leaving the building after the attack, but his face is not visible. Providence Deputy Police Chief Tim O'Hara described the suspect as being dressed all in black and possibly wearing a mask. The type of firearm used remains unknown and has not been recovered.
The shooting happened at the Barus and Holley building, part of Brown University's engineering school, during a review session led by a teaching assistant. He said that the shooter came in the doors, yelled something - he couldn't remember - and started shooting, recalled an economics professor.
Local restaurants locked their doors as police secured the area, with an overwhelming police presence around the campus. Residents have been advised to remain indoors until the lockdown order is lifted. The attack raises serious concerns, with the Gun Violence Archive reporting 389 mass shootings in the US this year alone.
In the aftermath, President Trump described the shooting as a terrible thing, urging prayers for the victims. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee expressed his condolences to the community, and classes scheduled for Saturday have been canceled.
