(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Before final exams, Brown University was just another Ivy League campusthen the unthinkable happened. Chaos erupted, the community was thrown into fear, and the nation couldnt look away. Amid the unfolding tragedy, Donald Trump weighed in as authorities scrambled to figure out exactly what had happened. Now with a person of interest in custody, the questionsand the shockare far from over.
Late on Sunday, Dec. 14, police identified 24-year-old Benjamin Erickson as the person of interest in connection to the fatal mass shooting at Brown University. CNN reports that Erickson, a Wisconsin native, served as an infantry soldier in the US Army. He completed sniper training, gained experience instructing others on firearms, and reportedly worked as a rifleman from 2021 to 2024. Authorities also say Erickson was not a current student at Brown, though he might have recently enrolled.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed at a Sunday morning news conference that a shelter-in-place order had been lifted and reassured residents that no one else is being sought in connection with the attack, which left two people dead and nine others injured.
Before Erickson’s arrest, the FBI released a short video showing someone in dark clothing walking along Hope Street near the campus. Providence police said the investigation remains active as authorities continue to work at the crime scene. Meanwhile, the Brown community begins to process the aftermath of a day that no one could have imagined.
The shooting erupted Saturday at the Barus & Holley building during a final exam review, sending students scrambling for safety. Brown University student Ref Bari described the terrifying scene: The shots rang out behind me…I glanced behind me very quickly and the lobby…is full with about a hundred students. So, imagine a hundred kids trying to rush out through two exits. Bari and several others sought refuge in a friends apartment bathroom for two hours while the campus tried to process the sudden violence. University President Christina Paxson called it a day of tremendous sorrow and expressed her support for victims and their families.
Speaking with reporters yesterday evening, President Donald Trump acknowledged the Brown University shooting, calling the tragedy “a terrible thing” and “a shame,” and offering prayers for the victims and their families. He also took to Truth Social to note that a suspect was in custodya statement that caused some confusion onlinebut emphasized that his thoughts were with the community during what Mayor Smiley called difficult days ahead as students and families try to process the horror.
Within hours, people from every corner of the country flooded The Shade Rooms Instagram comment section. And, the energy was different and full of concern. Some were sending prayers and words of comfort as best they could, while others were just desperate for the chaos to stop. The mix of heartbreak, frustration, and hope made it clear: the nation was collectively holding its breath for Brown University.
One Instagram user @popstunna added, “Pray for America Pray for peace pray for love ”
This Instagram user @emitvofficial wrote, “Hes not in custody !!! praying for my hometown“
And, Instagram user @ychels said, “PRAYING FOR BROWN UNIVERSITY STAFF, STUDENTS & FAMILIES ”
Meanwhile, Instagram user @iammburgundybee_ shared, “They need to start having armed security at all schools and colleges like this is crazy!“
While Instagram user @ellis_clark commented, “Im so tired“
Finally, Instagram user @knowyour__hustle added, “So unfortunate right before the holidays ”
