A surge in anxiety grips Rhode Island as authorities pursue the Brown University shooting suspect, according to Providence Mayor Brett Smiley. He told ABC News on Monday that the community’s worry has increased since a person of interest was released from custody amid the ongoing manhunt for the gunman who fatally wounded two Brown students on Saturday.
Smiley emphasized that the city still faces no credible threats, noting, “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.” He added that the situation remains comparable to the day before, with authorities continuing to receive no solid evidence of danger to Brown or the wider public.
The comments came as federal and local investigators pressed forward with their work early Monday, two days after a shooting inside a Providence academic building.
The person of interest who was taken into custody early Sunday was released later that day after officials determined there was insufficient basis to keep them detained.
The Providence Police Department stated, “Tonight, we announced that the person of interest is being released. The investigation remains fully active among all agencies,” and noted that since the 911 call, there have been no specific threats to the community.
Smiley declined to confirm whether the released individual was cleared of all ties to the case or whether investigators are leaning toward a student suspect or someone from off campus, saying, “We cannot comment on that and are exploring all possible leads.”
Authorities have confirmed two fatalities and nine injuries from the shooting. The wounded were taken to local hospitals as Brown University President Christina H. Paxson described the event as another instance of the nation’s pervasive, devastating gun violence.
Governor Dan McKee echoed the gravity of the day, stating that emergency drills—commonplace for preparedness—tropped into harsh reality when a gunman opened fire in a Brown classroom.
The FBI and other agencies released a brief clip showing a person of interest dressed in dark clothing, including a hood, seen walking along Hope Street and then along Waterman Street before moving out of frame.
Officials maintain that the individual in the clip is still considered a person of interest in the shooting.
The detained person of interest, captured around 3:45 a.m. at a Coventry hotel roughly 28 miles south of Providence, was described by law enforcement sources as a Wisconsin native in their mid-20s. At the time of detention, authorities reportedly found two firearms in their possession.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha stated there was no basis to continue detaining the individual, noting that investigative directions can shift as new information emerges.
As the case unfolds, officials continue to follow every lead, with the investigation remaining active across agencies.
Contributors to this reporting include ABC News correspondents Sasha Pezenik, Aaron Katersky, Luke Barr, Pierre Thomas, and Bill Hutchinson."}
