In brief
The investigation into a shooting at Brown University on Saturday has taken a turn as police released a person of interest and vowed to refocus efforts on gathering video evidence to identify the shooter. The Mayor of Providence stated there are no credible ongoing threats, and the community is coming together in support of the victims. The gunman remains at large, with details of the chaotic scenes during the incident emerging as students cope with the aftermath.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Police renewed their search Monday for the gunman who killed two Brown University students and wounded nine others, a day after they released a person of interest after determining the evidence pointed 'in a different direction.'
Authorities announced the man’s release at a news conference late Sunday, marking a setback in the investigation into Saturday’s attack on the Ivy League school’s campus.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said he understands that the community is anxious, but that there have been no credible threats of further violence since the shooting.
No Current Suspect in Deadly Shooting
The release of the person of interest has left law enforcement without any known suspect, with officials pledging to redouble their efforts by canvassing for video surveillance that could help pinpoint the killer’s identity.
'We have a murderer out there,' said Attorney General Peter Neronha.
On Sunday morning, officials took into custody a person of interest at a hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, about 20 miles from Providence. The individual was identified as a 24-year-old man from Wisconsin, but authorities did not release his name.
'I’ve been around long enough to know that sometimes you head in one direction and then you have to regroup and go in another, and that’s exactly what has happened over the last 24 hours or so,' Neronha said.
Evidence now points to another direction, suggesting the need for further investigation into the case. Authorities are currently searching for a person captured in a brief video clip walking away from the scene after the shooting.
Despite an increased police presence at Brown, officials are not advising against shelter-in-place orders similar to those enacted during the initial chaos of the shooting.
