Police in Rhode Island said early Sunday that a person of interest was taken into custody following a shooting at Brown University during final exams that killed two people and wounded nine others, the Associated Press reported.
Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez said at a news conference that the detained individual is in their 30s and that authorities are not looking for any additional suspects. He declined to say whether the person has any connection to the university, according to AP.
Separately, an FBI agent said the arrest took place at a Hampton Inn in Coventry, about 20 miles (32 kilometres) from Providence. Officers remained at the hotel, where police tape was used to block off a hallway as the investigation continued, AP reported.
RUN, HIDE, FIGHT — Brown University advises students
The University authorities, in an alert, advised the students to run, hide or fight during the incident. It asked the students to lock the doors and keep the phones on silent to make sure they were safe.
“There’s an active shooter near Barus & Holley Engineering. Lock doors, silence phones and stay stay hidden until further notice,” the Ivy league university said in a statement.
“Remember: RUN, if you are in the affected location, evacuate safely if you can; HIDE, if evacuation is not possible, take cover; FIGHT, as a last resort, take action to protect yourself,” it added.Exams cancelled, campus under lockdown
Brown University President Christina H Paxson, in a statement during the early hours of Sunday, December 14, said that the university has decided to postpone the exams scheduled for Sunday.
She added that the six injured students hospitalised after the shooting were in “critical but stable” condition, while one is in critical condition. Another student is in stable condition, while one was treated and released from the hospital.
“As we look ahead to the next 24 hours, faculty members who had exams scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 14, informed their classes Saturday evening that there will be no scheduled exams Sunday. More information about academic matters will be forthcoming on Sunday morning,” she said in a statement.
“Providence Police have advised that our campus must remain on lockdown. It is an active police scene, and the priority is to keep everyone safe. All members of the campus community will receive an alert notifying students, faculty and staff when the shelter in place order is lifted. Until then, we advise parents and families not to travel to the Brown campus. This is for their safety,” she added.
