Police in the United States have released new video footage of a man they are urgently trying to locate, following a deadly shooting at the prestigious Brown University that left two students dead and nine others wounded.
Chaos on Campus During Final Exams
The attack unfolded on Saturday afternoon inside a first-floor classroom of the university's engineering building. According to a police official, the gunman fired more than 40 rounds from a 9mm handgun. The shooting occurred as final exams were under way, plunging the Ivy League campus and surrounding neighbourhoods in Providence, Rhode Island, into hours of chaos.
A massive police response involving hundreds of officers ensued. Students described hiding in fear, with one video from a library capturing them shaking and wincing at the sound of loud bangs before police entered to clear the building. Many remained barricaded in rooms or hid behind furniture during a campus-wide lockdown that lasted until Sunday.
Investigation Takes a New Direction
In a significant development, authorities announced on Sunday evening that a "person of interest" detained in connection with the attack had been released from custody. Police stated that the evidence had begun to point "in a different direction", marking a setback in the investigation.
When that individual was initially taken into custody at a Rhode Island hotel, police recovered two handguns and two loaded 30-round magazines. The lockdown on the university campus was subsequently lifted.
Fresh Appeal for Public Assistance
On Monday, Providence Police issued a new appeal, releasing CCTV footage filmed at 4.06pm. The video shows a man, dressed entirely in black, walking along a pavement as cars pass by. His face is not visible in the released clip.
Providence mayor Brett Smiley emphasised the current focus of the inquiry, stating, "Right now, we don't have any evidence to suggest that it was more than that individual." Investigators are still working to determine how the gunman gained access to the classroom in the seven-storey complex.
Aftermath and University Response
The university's president, Christina Paxson, provided an update on the wounded on Sunday. Of the nine injured students, one has been released from hospital. Seven remain in a critical but stable condition, while one is in a critical condition.
In response to the tragedy, Brown University—the seventh-oldest higher education institution in the US, with around 10,300 students—has cancelled all remaining classes and exams for the semester.
