The FBI has announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the gunman who opened fire at Brown University over the weekend, killing two students and wounding nine others.
The bureau’s Boston Division released a wanted poster on Monday that includes three images of the person they are seeking, described as an “unknown suspect.” The poster says the suspect is believed to be a male, about 5-foot-8 with a stocky build.
“We sent additional resources and personnel earlier today to help track down leads, canvass neighborhoods, and develop intelligence,” FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on social media late Monday. “Our Evidence Response Team remains on campus processing the scene, and our Lab at Quantico is assisting as well.”
The Brown University shooting reward announcement came as newly released security footage showed what local and federal authorities called a person of interest in the case. The clip appears to show the suspect walking in the area around campus in dark clothing before and after the attack.
Classroom attack leaves two dead, nine injured
Police in Providence said the gunman opened fire in a classroom setting on Saturday on College Hill, the neighborhood on the city’s East Side where historic homes line the streets around the Brown campus.
Two Brown students were killed, and nine other people were injured in the shooting, which unfolded inside the Barus & Holley building, the university’s physics and engineering center. The victims were taken to local hospitals; several remain in serious condition.
In a statement Sunday, Brown University President Christina H. Paxson called the attack “devastating gun violence” and said the community was reeling as investigators worked to piece together what happened.
Investigators seek witnesses from Barus & Holley
On Monday evening, Brown officials said Providence police are asking to speak with anyone who was in the Barus & Holley building on either Friday or Saturday, whether or not they witnessed the shooting itself.
“Even an incidental detail may be helpful in investigating,” the university said in an update to students, faculty, and staff, urging people to contact detectives if they remember anything unusual or have photos or video from the area.
Law enforcement has already been canvassing the surrounding blocks on College Hill, going door-to-door to collect security footage from homes and businesses that might show the suspect’s movements before or after the attack.
State officials overnight circulated the FBI’s reward poster to widen the search, and investigators are asking anyone who recognizes the person in the images, or who has any information about the shooter, to come forward.
State pledges full support as search continues
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee said he has instructed the Rhode Island State Police, which is assisting in the investigation, to “continue to provide all necessary investigative and patrol support to the city and the campus.”
“Like so many of us who have been impacted by the tragedy at Brown University this weekend, I am anxious to have the shooter identified, apprehended, and brought to justice,” McKee said in a statement announcing the Brown University shooting reward early Tuesday.
Officials have said there are no specific or credible threats to the wider Providence community, but they acknowledge that anxiety remains high on campus and across the state as the manhunt stretches on.
Police and the FBI are urging anyone with information about the suspect, the shooting, or the images released so far to contact investigators — stressing that even small details could help them close in on the gunman.
Sources:
ABC News – “Anxiety level ‘has risen’ amid manhunt in Brown University mass shooting, mayor says”
