Brown University Shooting: Police probe suspect’s possible military background

Police arrested him early Sunday morning from the Hampton Inn hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, after an 11-hour search. Nine students were also reportedly injured in the Brown University shooting.

Post Published By: Sujata Biswal

Updated : 15 December 2025, 3:52 PM IST

The shooting at Brown University took place on Saturday

New Delhi: Brown University in Rhode Island, USA, was rocked by gunfire. On Saturday, during final exams, a man dressed in black opened fire indiscriminately in the engineering building. Two people were killed and a large number of people were injured in the attack.

Police have taken a suspect into custody in connection with the attack. He has been identified as 24-year-old Benjamin Erickson. Police arrested him early Sunday morning from the Hampton Inn hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, after an 11-hour search. Nine students were also reportedly injured in the Brown University shooting.

Police Grappling with These Questions

Police said that Erickson was not currently a student at Brown University, but investigators are looking into whether he ever studied at the university or was ever affiliated with the institution. No charges have been filed against him yet after his detention.

Was the Suspect Part of the US Military?

According to records, Erickson served in the US Army. A US Army representative told The Post that he served as a US Army soldier from 2021 to November 2024 and retired from the Army with the rank of specialist. Public records also indicate that he is affiliated with a political party.

What Did the Police Find?

Police officials said the attacker had a pistol and fired more than 40 9mm rounds. CCTV footage showed a person resembling the attacker walking on a street near the campus before the attack. Evidence tags were found on the bullet casings inside the building where the shooting took place.

Officials are also trying to determine if the suspect had long-standing mental health issues. CNN reported that the man told authorities he was in his room the entire time during Saturday's shooting incident. Further investigation into the matter is underway.