A fatal classroom shooting at Brown University left two students dead and nine wounded and triggered a multi-agency manhunt, a campus lockdown and the cancellation of the remainder of the semester. Authorities detained a person of interest and said surveillance coverage in the targeted engineering building was limited, complicating the investigation. Law-enforcement briefings and university statements noted the shooter fired more than 40 rounds in a crowded exam-review session; Providence police said a person of interest in their 30s was in custody but no suspect had been formally charged at the time of reporting. Campus officials cancelled in-person finals and offered alternate grading and support options, while local leaders warned the community would see a heightened police presence. The episode spotlights immediate university priorities: review building access and camera coverage, reassess exam-week security protocols, expand mental-health and crisis resources, and coordinate communications with families and local law enforcement. Trustees and campus safety directors should expect calls for both immediate fixes and longer-term capital investments in surveillance and controlled access.
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