Closing summary
It’s approaching 2am in Providence Rhode Island, but the manhunt remains ongoing. We’re closing this live blog but will return when there is breaking news to bring you.
Here’s a reminder of what’s happened today:
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A shooter dressed in black killed at least two people and wounded nine others at Brown University during final exams on the Ivy League campus. Hours after the shooting the suspect remained at large.
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Brown University president Christina Paxson confirmed that the two people killed were students. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said a shelter-in-place was in effect for the area and encouraged people living near the campus to stay inside and not to return home until it was lifted.
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Eight people with gunshot wounds were taken to Rhode Island hospital, where six were in critical but stable condition, according to Kelly Brennan, a spokesperson for the hospital. A ninth person was later found to have been injured, but was reportedly not in a critical situation.
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Police released footage of the man they suspected to be behind the shooting late on Saturday, adding that some witnesses reported that the man, who could be in his 30s, may have been wearing a camouflage mask. The shooting happened inside a classroom.
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University officials initially told students and staff that a suspect was in custody, before later saying that was not the case and that police were still searching for a suspect or suspects. The mayor said a person preliminarily thought to be involved was detained but was later determined to have no involvement.
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President Donald Trump told reporters that he had been briefed on the shooting and “all we can do right now is pray for the victims.” Earlier he claimed a suspect was in custody before rowing back on that statement and confirming the shooter was still at large.
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The shooting occurred in the Barus + Holley building, a seven-story complex that houses the School of Engineering and physics department. According to the university’s website, the building includes more than 100 laboratories, dozens of classrooms and offices. Brown, one of the America’s most prestigious colleges, has roughly 7,300 undergraduates and more than 3,000 graduate students.
Key events
More than 400 law enforcement personnel remain deployed across Brown University, which remains in lockdown hours after the shooting began.
Officials do not believe there is any “specific, ongoing threat” from the suspect, Providence mayor Brett Smiley said late on Saturday, but with law enforcement agencies canvassing the area and conducting a manhunt, a shelter-in-place order for the campus and the surrounding neighbourhood would remain for now.
“The shelter-in-place allows [law enforcement] to do their work in the first phase of the investigation,” Smiley said.
The FBI is calling for local people to send in any information they might have on the shooter, as the manhunt continues.
The agency has launched a website through which members of the public can provide evidence they have to the identity or location of the suspect.
Providence police also have their own “tip line” that members of the public can contact with any information.
Providence mayor Brett Smiley has held what he says is the final news update of the evening, just before midnight local time.
Smiley referenced the security footage released by law enforcement, that they believe shows the suspect. “We know there is no clear shot of the face,” he said.
It’s being reported that some students are being escorted off the campus, but for many others, the shelter in place orders remain in affect, hours after the shooting took place.
Local officials release video of suspected shooter
Local officials have released a video of the suspected shooter, leaving the Barus and Holley building on Brown University’s campus.
The surveillance footage reveals very little of the identity of the suspect, other than confirming Providence deputy police chief Timothy O’Hara’s comments that he was dressed in black.
“It’s of who we believe is the suspect leaving that area walking on Hope Street and taking a right on Waterman. He’s going to be wearing dark clothing. You are not going to be able to see his face,” O’Hara said during a media briefing in the last few hours.
Police and FBI officials continue to patrol the area surrounding Brown University.
Officials have said there are 400 officers searching for the suspect, hours after the shooting was first reported.
We’re expecting to soon see footage of the suspect, which law enforcement said would be released after their latest media briefing wrapped up, more than 30 minutes ago.
Local officials have said that the shelter in place order is only for Brown’s campus and the surrounding neighbourhood.
“We have no reason to believe that there is any particular threat beyond the campus area,” Providence mayor Brett Smiley has said.
New details of suspected shooter released
Officials have said they are looking for a male dressed in black and are releasing a video of the suspect, who deputy police chief Timothy O’Hara says may have been wearing a mask.
He said officials had retrieved shell casings from the scene of the shooting, but that police were not prepared to release details.
“The individual responsible is still at large,” Providence mayor Brett Smiley told reporters, while O’Hara confirmed the suspect had not been identified, but was male and could be in his 30s.
Local officials have now ended the media briefing, but promised there will be further updates tonight.
Meanwhile, emergency personnel continue to cordon off the crime scene, escort students to safe buildings and search for the shooter. Here are some of the latest images from the scene.
Providence’s deputy chief of police Timothy O’Hara has said that a weapon has not been found and searches for the suspect are ongoing.
O’Hara says he is working the federal agencies in the manhunt, but there remain a lot of unanswered questions.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley has said it’s not known where the shooter is still in the local area.
