Crime
Benjamin Erickson, the person of interest in Brown University mass shooting released by police
Providence, R.I. — Benjamin Warren Erickson, the individual previously detained as a person of interest in the deadly shooting at Brown University, has been released by law enforcement, according to city and state officials.
Authorities emphasized that Erickson is not involved in the attack and that the investigation has shifted in a different direction.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed the release, while Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha explained that investigators initially followed leads that appeared to point to Erickson but later determined those leads were incorrect.
“Sometimes you head in one direction and then you have to regroup and go in another,” Neronha said. He added that the evidence now points elsewhere, and acknowledged the harm caused by the premature public identification of Erickson.
“It was really unfortunate that this person’s name was leaked to the public. It’s hard to put that back into the bottle,” the attorney general said.
Officials reiterated that the gunman remains at large, and no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting.
The shooting occurred Saturday afternoon at the Barus & Holley Engineering Building, which houses classrooms and laboratory space for Brown’s engineering and physics departments. Multiple exams were underway at the time.
At approximately 4:22 p.m. local time, Brown University issued an emergency alert reporting an active shooter near the engineering complex and instructing students and staff to lock doors, silence phones, and shelter in place, following the “Run, Hide, Fight” protocol.
By 5:27 p.m., additional reports indicated shots had been fired near Governor Street, about two blocks from the original location. The Providence Police Department shortly thereafter announced that multiple people had been shot in the area surrounding the campus.
University officials later confirmed that two people were killed and eight others were hospitalized in critical but stable condition. A subsequent update noted that an additional victim suffered minor injuries from bullet fragments and is expected to make a full recovery.
Police have described the suspect as a male dressed in black, possibly wearing a camouflaged mask. Investigators believe a firearm was used, though no weapon has been recovered, and authorities have not identified the type of gun involved.
Providence Deputy Police Chief Tim O’Hara said officers are “utilizing every resource possible” to locate the suspect and urged the public to avoid the area as the search continues. Authorities said the suspect fled the scene on foot, exiting the building on the Hope Street side, and there was no direct interaction with police at the time of the attack.
Law enforcement also addressed reports of a separate confrontation involving gunfire a few blocks from the shooting scene, noting that the connection to the campus shooting remains unclear and is still under review.
As of the latest update, no shooter is in custody, and local, state, and federal agencies — including the FBI — remain in close coordination. Officials have not released the identities of the victims and said additional details will be shared when appropriate.
The shelter-in-place order has been gradually lifted in phases, but authorities continue to ask residents to remain vigilant and report any information that could assist the investigation.
MT. JULIET, Tenn. — Authorities have identified two victims killed during an active shooter incident at Cedar Creek Marina in Mt. Juliet late Friday night.
The suspect, identified as Gary Haley, a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, is deceased following an officer-involved shooting, officials confirmed.
Mount Juliet Police officers were dispatched at approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday to the Cedar Creek Marina, located in the 9000 block of Saundersville Road, after receiving reports of a man threatening another individual on the docks.
Due to the active shooter report, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area as a precaution.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound.
The victim was later identified as Robby Brogdon, who was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Despite life-saving efforts, Brogdon later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators determined that the suspected shooter had retreated to a boat within the marina and had barricaded himself inside.
The standoff continued for several hours as officers secured the scene and attempted to resolve the situation safely.
At approximately 1:00 a.m. Saturday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reported that the suspect engaged responding officers and fired shots at them under circumstances that remain under investigation. Officers returned fire.
The suspect, Gary Haley, was later found deceased aboard the vessel.
During the course of the response, officers also discovered a second adult male victim, Nathan Jones, who had been shot by the suspect.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has assumed responsibility for the investigation, which includes a homicide, an attempted homicide, and an officer-involved shooting.
TBI agents are actively conducting interviews, collecting evidence, and working to establish a comprehensive timeline of events.
Upon completion of the investigation, findings will be submitted to 15th Judicial District Attorney General Jason Lawson for review.
Authorities stated that additional information will be released as it becomes available.