The anxiety level among Rhode Islanders “has risen” since a person of interest was released from custody amid the manhunt for the assailant who opened fire at Brown University, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said Monday.
“We understand that there’s a high degree of anxiety, and after this individual was released last night, I understand that anxiety level has risen in our community,” Smiley told media. “But it’s no different than a day ago, which is that we’ve received — continue to receive zero credible threats to our community, Brown or the broader community.”
Smiley spoke as federal and local law enforcement agencies continued their investigation two days after the mass shooting inside an academic building on the Providence campus.
Person of interest detained, then released
A person of interest in the case was taken into custody early Sunday at a hotel in Coventry, about 28 miles south of Providence, according to law enforcement sources and local police. The individual was later released the same day after authorities determined there was no legal basis to keep holding him.
“Tonight, we announced that the person of interest is being released. The investigation has been ongoing and remains fully active between all agencies,” the Providence Police Department said in a statement. “Since the first call to 911, we have not received any specific threats to our community.”
Smiley declined to say on Monday whether the man who was released had been fully cleared of any connection to the shooting. He also would not confirm whether investigators believe the gunman is a student or someone from off campus.
“We cannot comment on that, and we’re exploring all possible leads,” he said.
Law enforcement sources described the detained person of interest as a man in his mid-20s from Wisconsin. When he was picked up at about 3:45 a.m. Sunday, he was allegedly in possession of two guns, according to sources.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said there was “no basis” to continue detaining the man.
“Sometimes you head in one direction and have to regroup and go in another,” Neronha said. “That’s exactly what’s happened over the last 24 hours or so.”
What is known about the Brown University shooting
Officials said two people were killed and nine others were injured when a gunman opened fire on a classroom of Brown University students on Saturday. The attack unfolded during what campus leaders described as a day of “devastating gun violence.”
The injured were transported to local hospitals. In a statement early Sunday, Brown University President Christina H. Paxson said that “every year, emergency responders and students drill for the unthinkable — a shooting at our schools. Yesterday, that action became all too real when a gunman opened fire on a classroom of innocent Brown University students.”
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee echoed that message in his own statement, saying the drill scenarios that students practice had “become all too real” and praising the response of emergency services.
Classes and exams have been disrupted as the university focuses on safety, support services and cooperation with investigators.
Video of person of interest and continued manhunt
Investigators have circulated a short surveillance video showing someone they still describe as a person of interest in the Brown University shooting.
In the clip, the individual is dressed in dark clothing, including what appears to be a hood, walking along Hope Street and then turning north. Their right hand appears to be in their jacket pocket as they move northward along Waterman Street before leaving the frame.
Officials say they continue to believe that the person seen in the video is a person of interest in the case, and they are asking members of the public who recognize the figure or have additional footage from the area to come forward.
Even after the earlier person of interest was released, Smiley and other leaders stressed that the investigation remains “fully active” with local police, the FBI and other agencies involved.
Community on edge, but officials stress no specific threat
Smiley acknowledged the heightened anxiety in Providence and across Rhode Island as the search for the gunman continues, especially following news that the man previously held had been released.
At the same time, he emphasized that authorities have not received any specific threats linked to the shooting.
“The status of safety in our community remains unchanged,” Smiley said. “We believe that you remain safe in our community.”
Officials have urged residents and students to remain vigilant, follow instructions from law enforcement, and use available counseling and support resources as the campus and city process another instance of gun violence.
As investigators work through surveillance footage, witness interviews, and forensic evidence, the central question for Brown’s community — who carried out the attack and why — remains unanswered.
Sources:
ABC News – “Anxiety level ‘has risen’ amid manhunt in Brown University mass shooting, mayor says”
