Providence, R.I. — In the quiet hours before dawn on Sunday, a major break in one of the most harrowing moments in Brown University’s recent history came as authorities took a person of interest into custody in connection with the deadly shooting that shook the Ivy League campus on Saturday afternoon. The individual, identified by multiple law enforcement sources as 24-year-old Benjamin Erickson, was detained at a hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, roughly 15 to 28 miles from Providence, after a nationwide search that unfolded overnight.
The shooting erupted around 4:15 p.m. on December 13 inside the Barus & Holley Engineering Building, where students were gathered for final exam review sessions. Eyewitnesses described stunned silence giving way to chaos as gunfire ripped through the packed classroom. By nightfall, the death toll had unfortunately risen: two students were confirmed dead and nine others wounded, most of whom were rushed to Rhode Island Hospital. Officials later detailed that several of the injured remain in critical but stable condition.
Campus safety alerts were sent to phones across Brown’s College Hill campus nearly immediately, urging students and faculty to “lock doors, shelter in place, and await further instructions.” For hours, the normally bustling academic surroundings fell eerily quiet, punctuated only by the fervent activity of law enforcement and the solemn whispers of prayer vigils that sprang up across Providence.
Law enforcement officials have been careful to draw a distinction between a “person of interest” and a formally charged suspect, but the evidence recovered during the arrest raised serious questions. According to police, Erickson was found in possession of two firearms, including a handgun outfitted with a laser sight — details that mirror what investigators believe may have been used in the attack.
Erickson, originally from Wisconsin, is reported to have no known current affiliation with Brown University, though earlier reports suggest he once transferred to the school. Investigators are still piecing together his movements in the days leading up to the shooting and are reviewing his background, including prior military service and academic history, as part of a broader effort to understand what might have led to the tragedy.
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez and Mayor Brett Smiley have emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and that no motive has been identified or confirmed. They also noted that no additional suspects are being sought at this time, providing some measure of relief to a campus and city reeling from the violence.
As Brown University begins the long process of healing — canceling remaining finals, offering counseling services and honoring those lost — the community mourns, reflects, and awaits clearer answers. In the coming days, investigators will likely release more details as they continue the work of understanding why this devastating act unfolded in a lecture hall that should have been a place of shared scholarship and safety.
