At least two people were killed in a shooting at Brown University in the American city of Providence on Saturday afternoon local time. Eight injured people have been taken to hospital in critical condition, Reuters news agency reports, citing the mayor of Providence.
The shooting took place around 4 p.m. local time. The gunman opened fire at a building where exams were taking place at the time. Hours after the shooting, the situation in Providence remains chaotic, according to local reports. The shooter has not yet been found, and students and city residents living around campus have been urged to stay indoors. Large numbers of heavily armed police comb the streets in the vicinity of the university.
The university spread incorrect messages twice after the shooting. A gunman would have been arrested, and more shots would have been fired around half past six. Both messages were withdrawn. “All we know at this time is that the suspect is a male dressed in black,” said Police Chief Timothy O’Hara.
Brown University is located in the heart of Providence, the capital of the state of Rhode Island. The university with approximately 10,000 students is considered a prestigious Ivy League institution.
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