Local police confirmed that there were many victims but have not published details about their identities and the condition of their injuries.
Immediately after the incident, Brown University issued a series of urgent warnings, announcing about an operating shooter and asking students and lecturers to lock the doors, turn off phone bells, and hide until further notice.
An initial report on a second shooting near Governor Street that was later corrected by the school was inaccurate, but warned that people should remain on the ground as the initial threat had not been ruled out.
According to the updated announcement at 6:05 p.m. (east of the US) on December 13, the authorities are still searching for the suspect after many people were shot near a building on the school campus.
The victims were taken to local hospitals, but the school said there was no official information about their health condition.
Brown University is also reviewing to identify those in the building at the time of the shooting, as the school had an exam schedule from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. the same day.
The incident occurred at the historic College Hill area of Providence, home to Brown University - a long-standing private university, founded in 1764.
On the federal side, the FBI Office in Boston said it has provided resources to local forces, including evidence collection, investigation, combat and victim assistance.
The Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Zinc and explosives (ATF) also confirmed that its agents were present at the scene. The authorities have urged residents to stay away from the area and follow all instructions from state and local governments.
President Donald Trump said he had been reported the shooting. In a message posted on Truth Social, and shared on the White House's X account, he confirmed that the FBI was present at the scene and sent his prayers to the victims and their families.
Trump initially wrote that the suspect had been arrested, but later corrected that Brown University Police had withdrawn the information and that the suspect had not been arrested.
At the time of the incident, President Trump was in Baltimore to attend the Army-Navy football match and was expected to return to the White House soon.
The witnesses recounted the chaotic scene when more than a dozen rescue vehicles rushed to the scene. Many officers equipped with heavy weapons, wearing tactical equipment, quickly blocked off the area and asked reporters to take shelter in the car.
Brown University doctor Chiangheng Chien said he was working in a lab with three others when he received a warning message about the gunman.
The group immediately turned off the lights, locked the doors and crawled under the table, waiting in a state of congestion for nearly 2 hours. Chien said that they were then asked to evacuate so that the police could check "every corner" of the building.
