Suspect from Wisconsin Drove 17 Hours to Providence with Laser-Equipped Handgun Before Deadly Brown University Rampage

Providence, Rhode Island — December 14, 2025

A man in his 20s from Wisconsin allegedly traveled more than 1,000 miles — a grueling 17-hour drive — to Rhode Island, armed with a laser-sighted Glock handgun, before opening fire in a classroom at Brown University's engineering building, killing two students and wounding nine others in a shocking attack that unfolded during final exams.

Law enforcement sources revealed that the suspect, whose identity has not yet been released, was detained early Sunday morning at a Hampton Inn hotel in Coventry, about 20 miles south of Providence. Authorities recovered two firearms from his hotel room: a revolver and a compact Glock equipped with a laser sight attachment, a device that projects a beam to aid precise targeting.

The shooting erupted around 4 p.m. Saturday in the Barus & Holley building on Brown's College Hill campus, where students were taking exams. Witnesses described chaos as the gunman, dressed in black, entered a lecture hall and began firing more than 40 rounds. Two students were pronounced dead at the scene, while nine others — all confirmed by university officials to be students — were rushed to Rhode Island Hospital. Seven remained in critical but stable condition as of Sunday afternoon.

"This is an unthinkable nightmare," Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee said in a statement, ordering flags lowered to half-staff across the state. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley lifted a citywide shelter-in-place order Sunday morning after the suspect's detention, but emphasized the profound impact on the community.

Federal agents tracked the suspect using cellphone data and a public tip, leading to his arrest without incident. Sources told reporters that investigators believe he drove from Wisconsin specifically to carry out the attack, though no motive has been disclosed. He has no known connection to Brown University and is not a student there.

Brown President Christina Paxson confirmed the victims were students, praising the rapid response of first responders and campus safety teams. "Our hearts are broken," she said in a campus-wide message.

The incident marks another tragic chapter in U.S. campus violence, prompting renewed calls for gun safety measures in a state with some of the nation's strictest firearm laws. As the investigation continues with FBI involvement, authorities say no additional suspects are being sought.

The campus remains partially restricted, with counseling services mobilized for the shaken Ivy League community of over 11,000 students. 17GEN4