Police to Release Person of Interest in Brown University Shooting as Evidence Points in Different Direction

A person of interest detained in connection with Saturday’s deadly shooting near Brown University is being released without charges, even as investigators acknowledge they still have no suspects in custody.

The shooting left two people dead and nine others injured, shaking the Providence, Rhode Island, community and raising fresh questions about public safety in and around elite college campuses.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed late Sunday that the individual previously detained would be released.

“We will be releasing the person of interest who had been detained earlier today,” Smiley said, according to WJAR-TV.

Despite the lack of arrests, Smiley insisted the broader community faces no imminent danger.

“Ever since the initial call a day and a half ago, we have not received any credible or specific threats to the Providence community,” he said. “We believe you remain safe in our community.”

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha echoed that message, arguing that releasing the individual — who had been detained at a hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island — does not signal failure by law enforcement.

“This is what these investigations look like,” Neronha said. “Sometimes you head in one direction and then you have to regroup and go in another.”

“There was some degree of evidence that pointed to this individual, but that evidence needs to be corroborated and confirmed,” he added, emphasizing that authorities followed the evidence where it led.

Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez offered a similar explanation, detailing the steps investigators took before determining they lacked grounds to prosecute.

“We did our thorough investigation, examined, ended up drafting some search warrants, came up with some evidence, but that evidence was examined and we didn’t have enough, obviously, to be able to prosecute anybody and so the person was released,” Perez said.

He rejected the idea that the detention was a mistake.

“Investigations will tell us if something is valid or not, whether something needs to be ruled out,” Perez said. “It’s not a mistake; it’s just how investigations work.”

As the probe continues, Smiley said police will begin canvassing the neighborhood where the shooting occurred, going door to door as they pursue new leads, according to The Providence Journal. Investigators are also seeking additional video footage, as authorities said nothing “actionable” was recovered from inside the college building where the shooting took place.

Brown University officials urged students and staff to remain alert while stressing that law enforcement presence has been increased on and around campus, according to Fox News.

“As Providence police continue to lead this investigation, they have informed Brown that they are continuing their search efforts, which includes ongoing coordination with multiple agencies,” the university said in a message to students.

“There continues to be a heightened amount of local, state and federal police activity in the area as law enforcement continues to investigate and patrol with increased vigilance,” the message continued.

“We continue to make every effort to ensure the safety and security of the campus,” the statement added. “We are also advising every member of the Brown community to be vigilant in their own activities on campus.”

With no suspects in custody and a violent crime still unsolved, the incident underscores growing concerns about accountability, transparency, and public safety — particularly in communities that too often downplay rising disorder until tragedy strikes.