PROVIDENCE, R.I. (RTW News) — Police renewed their search Monday for the gunman who killed two Brown University students and wounded nine others, following the release of a person of interest in the case.
Authorities held a news conference on Sunday to announce the release of a detained man at a Rhode Island hotel, leading to questions regarding the investigation, including a lack of video evidence and the delay faced by the shooter as police focused on the person of interest.
State Attorney General Peter Neronha emphasized the urgency of the investigation, remarking, We have a murderer out there. The search for the shooter intensified as law enforcement authorities called on local residents and businesses to provide any potential surveillance footage that may help identify the attacker.
The attack occurred during a busy examination period, with the gunman firing over 40 rounds from a 9mm handgun inside an engineering classroom. More than 200 police officers were deployed during the search as students reported dread and confusion amidst lockdown alerts sent throughout campus.
Investigators remain unsure how the shooter managed to access the classroom amidst a heightened state of alert on campus.
Student Survivor's Pain
One of the injured, Brown University junior Mia Tretta, shared her heartbreaking experience of being a survivor of two school shootings. Tretta, who was previously shot in a school tragedy in California, was studying in her dorm when the alerts of the emergency unfolded.
On Sunday evening, a vigil was held in memory of the victims, signifying the community's grief and solidarity as they process the traumatic events.
With the academic semester disrupted following the tragedy, Brown University continues to support its students through counseling services as it grapples with the fallout from the violence.
