'Keystone Kash' Patel Faces Fresh Backlash as FBI Releases Detained Soldier in Brown University Shooting Probe

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — December 15, 2025 — FBI Director Kash Patel, derisively nicknamed "Keystone Kash" by critics for a series of perceived investigative missteps, is embroiled in yet another controversy after authorities released a 24-year-old former U.S. Army soldier who had been publicly named and detained as a person of interest in the deadly mass shooting at Brown University.

The reversal came late Sunday night, just hours after Patel touted the FBI's role in the detention on social media, highlighting the bureau's use of advanced geolocation technology to track the individual to a hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island.Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha announced during a press conference that new evidence "now points in a different direction," necessitating the release of the man, identified by sources as Benjamin Erickson, a Wisconsin native and recent Army veteran with sniper training.

"It's really unfortunate that this person's name was leaked to the public," Neronha said. "It's hard to put that back in the bottle." He emphasized that such shifts are part of complex investigations: "Sometimes you head in one direction and you have to go in another."

The shooting on Saturday afternoon at Brown's Barus & Holley engineering building left two people dead — including the vice president of the university's Republican club — and nine others wounded during final exams week. The gunman remains at large, prompting renewed anxiety on campus and in the Providence community.

Patel's earlier X post celebrated the detention: "As a result, early this morning, FBI Boston’s Safe Streets Task Force... detained a person of interest in a hotel room in Coventry, RI." He praised the FBI's Cellular Analysis Survey Team for providing "critical geolocation capabilities."

Critics quickly pounced, accusing Patel of prematurely claiming victory — a pattern reminiscent of a similar incident in September following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, where an initial custody announcement was retracted hours later.Online backlash was swift, with one X user writing: "So Kash Patel provided the tip... did a full victory lap over it; and then the suspect is released less than 24 hours later and the shooter remains at large. That's some operation they're running at the FBI."

Patel, who assumed the FBI directorship in February amid fierce debate over his lack of senior law enforcement experience and staunch loyalty to President Donald Trump, has faced ongoing scrutiny. The "Keystone Kash" moniker draws from the slapstick Keystone Cops, symbolizing bungled policing.Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee confirmed officials notified Patel prior to the release announcement, and the director committed to continued federal support.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley addressed community fears: "We know that this is likely to cause fresh anxiety... We believe that you remain safe in our community."The investigation continues with full involvement from the FBI, Rhode Island State Police, and local authorities.

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As the manhunt intensifies, questions swirl around Patel's leadership at a time when the bureau is already navigating internal challenges and public distrust.