A mass shooting on an Ivy League campus left two dead and nine wounded, and now the only person authorities had in custody has walked free.
A person of interest detained in connection with the Brown University mass shooting that killed two students and injured nine others was released without charges after authorities determined new evidence pointed the investigation in a different direction, NBC Boston reported.
The 24-year-old man was picked up Sunday morning at a Hampton Inn in Coventry, Rhode Island, following a tip fielded by the FBI. For a brief moment, it seemed law enforcement had their breakthrough in a horrific crime that shattered the supposed safety of an elite university campus.
Detained Individual Released After Evidence Shifts Direction
By Sunday night, however, that progress evaporated. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha announced the man would be released, acknowledging that while initial evidence justified the detention, subsequent information redirected their investigation entirely.
"We have not yet solved this case," Neronha said, "but I'm confident we're going to do that, and I am confident we're going to do that in the very near future." That confidence may be sincere, but it offers cold comfort to a community still reeling from Saturday's violence.
The attorney general expressed particular frustration that the detained individual's name had been leaked to the public before charges could be filed. "I think what's really unfortunate is this person's name was leaked to the public. It's hard to put that back," Neronha added.
Law Enforcement Emphasizes Facts Over Speculation in Investigation
That leak represents more than just an investigative misstep—it potentially ruins an innocent person's reputation while the actual killer remains at large. It's the kind of sloppy work that erodes public trust in law enforcement when precision matters most.
Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez emphasized his department's commitment to facts over speculation. "In the years that I have in this police department, we stand on grounded facts, not a speculation," Perez said.
That's an admirable standard, though one might wonder how thoroughly those facts were examined before detaining someone whose firearm reportedly had a "unique characteristic." Apparently, that distinctive feature wasn't distinctive enough to actually tie him to the crime.
Mayor Attempts to Reassure Community Despite Setback
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley attempted to reassure residents that despite the suspect's release, the city remains safe. "The status of safety in our community remains unchanged, and we believe that you remain safe in our community, though we will continue to have an enhanced police presence throughout the city," he said.
Translation: We have no idea who did this, but please don't panic. The mayor declined to recommend a new shelter-in-place order, acknowledging that news of the release might cause anxiety among Providence residents.
That's quite the understatement. A gunman murdered two students and wounded nine others; the only person law enforcement detained has been cleared, and officials are essentially asking the public to trust that everything's under control.
Investigation Returns to Beginning With Federal Support
Law enforcement now finds itself without any known suspect, pledging to redouble efforts by canvassing for video surveillance that might help identify the actual killer. Neronha didn't mince words about the gravity of the situation: "We have a murderer out there."
Gov. Dan McKee reported speaking with FBI Director Kash Patel, who confirmed the agency's continued commitment to providing resources for the investigation. That federal support will presumably prove more valuable than the false lead that just wasted precious investigative hours.
This dramatic setback raises uncomfortable questions about how thoroughly initial evidence was vetted before authorities moved to detain their person of interest. Two families have lost children, nine others suffered injuries, and an entire university community remains traumatized while the person responsible remains unidentified and at large.
