It happened to be on the campus of Brown University, the historic Ivy League school. Tragically, two students were killed and nine others were injured while taking their final exams on campus. The crash had taken place in the Barus and Holley building, home to the School of Engineering and the physics department. This senseless tragedy has devastated the university community and increased fears about safety on college campuses across the country.
Christina Paxson identified the two victims as students, a heartbreaking loss for the Ivy League institution. On a sunny Sunday morning, students were lining up in preparation for their first finals. Unsurprisingly, this time is often accompanied by increased levels of stress and school-related anxiety.
Emergency responders were by all accounts quick to the scene, with eight victims with gunshot wounds being taken to nearby Rhode Island Hospital. Six of the 13 injured still listed in critical but stable condition, while others were treated for more minor injuries. Among them, Joseph Oduro, a 21-year-old teaching assistant, was in the classroom where the attack occurred. He recalled the pandemonium that followed when the shooting started.
“The first couple of gunshots went straight to the chalkboard right where I was standing,” – Joseph Oduro
Oduro described how one moment he was standing there and then the next he was dropping to avoid getting shot. A young man standing next to him, a fellow student, took two rounds through the leg. He was then scheduled for major surgery later that day. As the news of the shooting began to circulate, the mood on campus was turned upside down. This prompted a shelter-in-place order, ultimately lifted later that same morning.
That police investigation culminated in the arrest of a person of interest at a hotel outside of Providence. Authorities clarified that this person was in his 20s, correcting earlier reports that maintained he was in his 30s. Col Oscar Perez, the police chief, did not disclose any connection between the suspect and Brown University. He was also behind other, more explicit information about the active investigation.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of the shooting, Mayor Brett Smiley emphasized the importance of supporting those affected: “We turn our attention to caring for our neighbors.” In response to the tragedy, a vigil is scheduled for 5 PM ET at Olympic Park, coinciding with plans to light a Christmas tree and celebrate Hanukkah.
President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the incident and extended condolences to the victims’ families. He stated:
“So to the nine injured: get well fast. And to the families of those two that are no longer with us: I pay my deepest regards and respects, from the United States of America.” – Donald Trump
That’s why the shooting at Brown University this past weekend is a painful reminder of the realities of gun violence in America. Political leaders, activists, and nonprofit organizations have provided, and continue to call for, bold solutions to end this spreading epidemic. Adam Schiff, a prominent political figure, shared his thoughts regarding the tragic event:
“I’m praying for all of the victims, their families, and the entire Brown University community as it grieves this horrific act of gun violence. How many more tragedies, more lives lost, more grieving families, before we act?” – Adam Schiff
The anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre always brings an intense emotional response. More importantly, millions of Americans are recognizing that the pattern of violence that was then is now. Nancy Pelosi articulated the need for moral action against such incidents:
“We have to pray not only with our lips, but with our action.” – Nancy Pelosi
We call on the university’s administration to deliver whatever additional support services can be afforded to students impacted by this traumatic event. The lingering effects of this shooting will likely be felt throughout the community for many years.