Camilla Jessen
Gunman still at large after deadly Brown University attack.
A man taken into custody after Saturday’s mass shooting at Brown University has been released without charge, police confirmed on Sunday.
The gunman remains unidentified and on the run.
Person questioned and released
Col. Oscar Perez of the Providence Police Department said the individual, initially described as a “person of interest,” was questioned overnight but investigators found no evidence linking him to the attack.
“He is no longer a person of interest,” Perez told reporters, adding that the investigation is once again focused on identifying the masked suspect seen fleeing the area.
Authorities have released CCTV footage showing a figure dressed entirely in black moving quickly down a street near the university around the time shots were fired.
Limited video evidence
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha declined to comment on the decision to release the man but said the lack of surveillance cameras inside the building where the attack took place has made the investigation difficult.
“All video on campus has been reviewed,” he said. “None captured the killer’s face. If we had that video, you’d have it.”
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley urged residents not to be fearful, noting there was no indication of an ongoing threat to the public.
How the shooting unfolded
Police say the gunman entered a Brown University building at around 4 p.m. on Saturday armed with a rifle. He opened fire in a hallway before entering a classroom where around 60 students had just finished a study session for an economics exam.
Witnesses told investigators the attacker shouted an unintelligible phrase before shooting into the room.
Two students were killed and nine wounded. One victim remains in critical condition.
Campus response
Brown University cancelled all exams for the rest of the semester on Sunday and encouraged remaining students to return home early for winter break.
“For the moment, we encourage everyone to focus on their own safety and well-being,” Provost Francis J. Doyle III wrote in a message to students.
The investigation is ongoing.
Sources: Providence Police; Rhode Island Attorney General; Brown University statements; People
