From Daily Mail:A person of interest who was taken into custody after a fatal shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island on Saturday was released from custody as police take their investigation in a new direction.
Earlier on Sunday, 24-year-old Benjamin Erickson was publicly named and linked to the case after he was detained by police.
He was taken into custody early Sunday morning by FBI agents at the Hampton Inn hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, where federal authorities were able to track his cellphone following a tip-off from Providence police.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley joined police officers on Sunday night to update the public in a late-night conference about the shooting that left two dead and nine injured. He confirmed that Erickson would be released.
“We know that this is likely to cause fresh anxiety for our community,” Mayor Smiley said. “We believe that you remain safe in our community.”
🚨 BREAKING: A manhunt is now full-steam ahead this morning after police RELEASED Brown University shooting person of interest Benjamin Erickson.
Evidence now “points in a different direction.”
This is a total MESS. pic.twitter.com/WlEk4Ab7Ch
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 15, 2025
LETTING HIM GO.
Speaking to reporters Sunday night, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said that the man who was arrested at a hotel in Coventry will be released from custody. THE BROWN UNIVERSITY SHOOTER REMAINS AT LARGE. pic.twitter.com/CFg82wWEE2— Dennis Michael Lynch (@TrustDML) December 15, 2025
Meanwhile, Brown University “urged its community to remain vigilant” as police reset the manhunt, Fox News reported.
In its late-night message on Sunday, the university said, “As Providence police continue to lead this investigation, they have informed Brown that they are continuing their search efforts, which includes ongoing coordination with multiple agencies.
“There continues to be a heightened amount of local, state, and federal police activity in the area as law enforcement continues to investigate and patrol with increased vigilance.”
“We continue to make every effort to ensure the safety and security of the campus,” Brown added. “We are also advising every member of the Brown community to be vigilant in their own activities on campus.”
From Fox:
Authorities said the video showing a man dressed in all black is still the “most useful” to help track down the Brown University shooter.
According to video footage released by police, the suspected gunman was seen leaving the building on foot.
The unidentified gunman appeared to be in his 30s, and was dressed in all black, according to Providence police.
Rhode Island AG Peter Neronha was pressed by the media to provide more images of the suspect, but he said there were few cameras in the area. If there was peice of video that would show a face, “you’d have it,” he told reporters.
“There just weren’t a lot of cameras in that Brown building, is the reality,” Neronha said.
“The reality is it’s an old building attached to a new one,” he added. “I don’t know what to tell you, but we’re going to go out and find whatever evidence we can to solve this case as quickly as we can.”
“I mean, we’re not holding back a video that we think would be useful. And I don’t think I should even have to say it.”
🚨 BREAKING: Brown University mass shooter suspect reportedly identified as Benjamin Erickson, 24, of Wisconsin
We are now 24 HOURS since the shooting took place, and very little footage of the suspect has been released. pic.twitter.com/5CAGcoyToA
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 14, 2025
Read more at Daily Mail and Fox News
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