Officials are holding an urgent press briefing following a deadly shooting at Brown University. A “person of interest” in his 20s has been detained in connection with the incident that occurred in the Barus & Holley engineering building during exams.
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with evidence being collected and multiple locations searched. Seven victims are reported in stable condition, and classes for the rest of the year have been canceled.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley praised the bravery and resilience of the students and campus community, while Brown University President Christina Paxson highlighted the support among students.
#BrownUniversity #BrownUniversityShooting #Providence #CampusShooting #BreakingNews #LivePressConference #USNews #GunViolence #StudentSafety #ProvidenceRI
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Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with evidence being collected and multiple locations searched. Seven victims are reported in stable condition, and classes for the rest of the year have been canceled.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley praised the bravery and resilience of the students and campus community, while Brown University President Christina Paxson highlighted the support among students.
#BrownUniversity #BrownUniversityShooting #Providence #CampusShooting #BreakingNews #LivePressConference #USNews #GunViolence #StudentSafety #ProvidenceRI
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NewsTranscript
01:00Good afternoon.
01:09Again, I'm Providence Mayor Brett Smiley.
01:11I'm joined with Governor McKee, who we will hear from in just a moment.
01:15We're also joined by Senator Jack Reed and Congressman Gabe Amo.
01:19And we will hear from Senator Jack Reed in a moment on behalf of Rhode Island's federal delegation,
01:24who've been in touch with us throughout this incident over the last day.
01:28And as both the Governor and I have said on multiple occasions,
01:31the amount of federal resources and cooperation that we've received is extraordinary.
01:34And that extends to our representatives here in Rhode Island.
01:39And then finally, Colonel Oscar Perez will give an update as well.
01:45At this time, we have no update to share on the investigation.
01:50It is ongoing.
01:51There is no reason to believe that we've hit any roadblocks,
01:54other than to say that we are doing what we know how to do in cooperation with our law enforcement partners
02:01to ensure that we adequately, thoroughly investigate the situation.
02:08And when we are ready to make a further announcement, we will do so.
02:12We know there's some information circulating,
02:14but we will not share any information that might compromise our investigation or future charges.
02:21So at this time, we have no official updates to share with respect to the investigation.
02:28Next, it's clear that our community is still in shock and hurting.
02:35And now that the initial phase of the investigation has made some progress,
02:40we're turning our attention to caring for our neighbors,
02:44both the Brown community, the broader Providence community, and truly all of Rhode Island.
02:48The City of Providence has stood up a website, the address of which is providenceri.gov
02:54slash communityresponseresources.
02:59There you can find a long list of community resources for mental health care,
03:05what to do in the event of trauma, how to help talk about events like this with your kids,
03:12to try to help families, neighbors, community members start to understand how to process
03:20that which has been so difficult for us.
03:24Finally, the Providence City Council, who have been excellent partners,
03:28and again, we're joined by leaders from the City Council,
03:30including the councilman for this area, Councilman John Gonsalves,
03:33is inviting the Providence community and really anyone who'd like to join us tonight
03:38at 5 p.m. at Lippet Park,
03:42where there had been a previous plan to light a Christmas tree
03:47and to light a menorah for the first night of Hanukkah.
03:51And for those who know at least a little bit of the Hanukkah story,
03:54it is quite clear that if we can come together as a community
03:58and shine a little bit of light tonight,
04:01I think there's nothing better that we could be doing as a community.
04:04And so please know you're all invited to Lippet Park tonight at 5 o'clock.
04:08Lippet Park is at 1008 Hope Street.
04:12And all are welcome.
04:14Certainly Providence Police and other folks will be on hand
04:16to make sure that we are all,
04:19can be in community without any concerns tonight.
04:24I'd like to note that Family Services is here with us today,
04:28Margaret Holland McDuff.
04:29She is one of those community resources that has become available.
04:33I'd like to also acknowledge that United Way of Rhode Island
04:35and their 2-1-1 system has been helping.
04:38And leaders from the Nonviolence Institute
04:40have been assisting with families in the hospitals.
04:44Additionally, Treasurer James Deosa and his Victim Compensation Fund
04:48has already been in touch to ensure that his office is doing everything that they can.
04:52Before I turn it over to the Governor,
04:54I'll just share that a couple hours ago I was at the hospital.
05:00I know President Paxson has been several times,
05:02but I had a chance to meet with a few of the victims and their families.
05:07And while they are receiving excellent medical care,
05:12and I want to thank the professionals at Brown Health and Rhode Island Hospital,
05:18the professionalism, these folks, just like our law enforcement professionals,
05:22have been up all night working,
05:24but the level of care and professionalism that they are exhibiting is extraordinary.
05:28These survivors are receiving excellent care,
05:32and the resilience that these survivors showed and shared with me
05:39is frankly pretty overwhelming.
05:43It pales in comparison what they've gone through for the rest of us here.
05:48We're all saddened and scared and tired,
05:51but what they've been through is something entirely different,
05:56and yet they showed courage and hope and gratitude
06:00for how this community has stood up for them
06:03and how the health care providers cared for them.
06:06A couple of the family members who I had a chance to speak with
06:08are so grateful for what they've seen and heard
06:11of the outpouring of support from this community,
06:13and so I want to relay that to all of you,
06:15that they're watching what's happening also,
06:18and their healing has improved based upon all of the positivity
06:23and love and care that they've seen from not just the Rhode Island community,
06:27but frankly the national community, and so thank you.
06:31Governor McKee has been an incredible partner through all of this,
06:35and I'm grateful for his leadership and the compassion that he's shown
06:38and the relentless focus he's had on those individuals
06:42who are recovering in the hospital right now,
06:45and I'd like to invite the governor to say a few words.
06:51So today Brown students and the community is suffering,
06:57and they're in pain.
07:00So please let the president and the Brown community know that we stand with you.
07:12So as we start this second day of this tragedy,
07:15I do feel as though it's important to really point out Mayor Smiley and his team,
07:23the first responders, state police and our federal partners,
07:28Brown University, the staff at the hospitals,
07:32and as the mayor said, the media who has been able to really put out the information
07:43that I'm sure is going to help accelerate the fact that we have someone in custody.
07:51The mental health support.
07:53The community needs our compassion and our support
08:00as the process of this horrific event unfolds.
08:05As governor and as a Rhode Islander,
08:09I get to speak on behalf of the people of the state of Rhode Island,
08:11as a dad, as a grandparent.
08:13It hits home to us, all of us, me included.
08:21While a suspect has been detained,
08:24our work as a state is not over.
08:30As governor, I'm committing to the city and to Brown
08:33and the broader community that has been impacted by this
08:37to make sure everyone who needs assistance,
08:41mental health assistance, can access them.
08:47Last night, we activated the state's trauma response team
08:50to help coordinate mental health resources with all partners.
08:59And to everyone in the nation, because this is a national event,
09:02I've had calls, like I said, personal calls with Hawaii,
09:08my dad that has a freshman at Brown University.
09:12To everybody out there in the country,
09:16please send your prayers here to Rhode Island.
09:20And to all Rhode Islanders,
09:23let's do what we do best.
09:29Let's stand by and support our neighbors
09:31when they most need it.
09:35And we stand ready to do exactly that.
09:40I invite Senator Jack Reed to say a few words
09:42on behalf of the congressional delegation.
09:46On behalf of Senator Whitehouse,
09:50Congressman Magaziner,
09:52Congressman Amo,
09:54I first want to express our profound condolences
09:58to those families who've lost a loved one
10:01and to those families who are struggling
10:06with a seriously injured child.
10:09We offer not only our sympathies,
10:12but our prayers for a speedy, speedy recovery.
10:15I must commend the leadership.
10:20Mayor Smiley has done a superb job.
10:22The governor has done a superb job.
10:27The president, President Paxson,
10:31and the provost, Provost Doyle,
10:33have also stepped up and done a superb job.
10:36We are also, I think, particularly indebted
10:40to the police officers
10:43and the firefighters
10:45from Providence,
10:47the Brown University Police Department,
10:50many departments, both police and fire,
10:52from across the state of Rhode Island,
10:54our state police,
10:56and a special word of praise and thanks
11:00to our federal law enforcement officers,
11:02the FBI, the out-ATF.
11:08They have been instrumental, critical,
11:10in the progress of this investigation so far.
11:13I received a call from Attorney General Pam Bondi,
11:17who I shared my praise and thanks
11:21for the assistance of federal authorities.
11:24This has been a horrible, terrible moment.
11:28But in moments like this,
11:32we see the best of Rhode Island,
11:36the firefighters, the policemen,
11:38the civic leaders,
11:40neighbors who come together
11:41and let us celebrate that community.
11:46Thank you, Senator.
11:47Finally, we'll hear from Providence Police Chief,
11:50Colonel Oscar Press.
11:52Thank you, Mayor.
11:53So, yeah, the message is the same.
11:55I'll echo the message from the Mayor earlier
11:57as far as where are we with the investigation.
11:59I'll tell you that right now,
12:00the investigation continues to progress extremely fast.
12:04We're in the process of collecting evidence
12:06and seizing items that we need to see,
12:08search locations that we need to search.
12:10I want to commend the response,
12:13the quick response of ATF, FBI.
12:15As the items get seized and collected,
12:17obviously, they will provide the resources
12:18and the equipment that we need
12:19to ensure that we have the right legal requirements
12:23and facts in order to be able to provide that
12:26so that we can move along.
12:27I also want to commend the Attorney General's Office
12:29who has been standing by us
12:30to ensure that our process is continuing in a proper manner.
12:34And so that's where we're at with it.
12:35We'll continue.
12:36It's a complex investigation.
12:38I know there's some speculations out there about names,
12:40and I'm not here to confirm or comment.
12:42I know you're going to ask me that as far as names.
12:43I'll tell you that I'm not going to confirm or comment
12:45because in the years that I have in this department,
12:48in this police department,
12:49we stand on grounded facts, not a speculation.
12:51And at that point, we'll be able that once we're ready
12:53and we have the appropriate and accurate information,
12:56we'll be able to update you with that.
12:57My goal is that we're able to have that information
13:00as soon as possible.
13:02But again, I tell you that respectfully,
13:03and I have the responsibility to respect the integrity
13:07of this investigation.
13:08I think that is complex.
13:10Any detective that worked last night
13:13and all the agents that worked last night,
13:15I have responsibility to respect the work that they're doing.
13:17And so when we're ready to provide you with that info
13:19and to come to or to give you the right info,
13:23I will make sure that you get that updated.
13:25General, we managed to establish any connection
13:27between the suspect and the university.
13:29Why did the suspect type at the university?
13:31So that's all part of the investigations that we're conducting.
13:33And again, it's complex.
13:35And we want to make sure that once we have,
13:38at the appropriate time, give you the accurate information,
13:40we'll be able to provide that information for you in that answer.
13:42Go ahead, John.
13:42Colonel, the person of interest,
13:45is that the same individual that we saw
13:48on the surveillance video you released?
13:50So again, I'm not going to speculate.
13:52I want to make sure that if I give you an answer,
13:54it's grounded on facts.
13:55And so we're getting to that point,
13:57but it's going to take time.
13:59Detective work is not something that you can answer
14:01or solve within a minute.
14:03It takes time, and we have to make sure
14:04that we have the right evidence
14:05in order to prosecute somebody properly.
14:07So what led you to Coventry?
14:10What led you to this province?
14:11So I'm not going to confirm a comment on locations again, John.
14:16I'll tell you that.
14:17I'm going to tell you exactly what I'm telling you
14:19is the fact that we're going to continue progressing
14:22on this complex investigation to make sure
14:25that we have all the facts together
14:26in order to be able to give you what you're asking.
14:29Do you feel better now than you did last night or midnight?
14:31Absolutely.
14:32I think the great work of the men
14:33and women of this department,
14:34the collaboration with the different federal agencies,
14:36the fact that we're standing here all together,
14:38and we're stepped up,
14:40and we're making sure that we have the right answers
14:42and that we can continue on to bring peace,
14:45as the mayor stated, and calm to this city.
14:48It's a beautiful city,
14:49and it's something that we take pride of.
14:51And so, yes, I feel much better.
14:54Pat and then the guy behind.
14:56Can you talk to us about the process?
14:57The most common question I've gotten for the last 24 hours,
15:01it revolves around the fact that Brown University
15:03is the most camera-ridden, most responsive piece
15:07of real estate in Rhode Island,
15:09and yet there seems to be little or no video evidence
15:12outside of that clip.
15:13So, you know, respecting the investigation,
15:16is there a lot more video
15:18that we're just not able to see yet
15:19because of the ongoing investigation,
15:22or is there simply no video?
15:24So what we shared with you the other day
15:25is what we have that we could share,
15:27and then we'll continue to, again,
15:29we're continuing to collect evidence.
15:30As we speak, we have detectives out there
15:31trying to continue to find,
15:33so I don't want to tell you that there's no more video
15:35because we might find something
15:36within the next few minutes.
15:38So, yes, it's possible,
15:39but what we gave you the other day is what we have.
15:41Go ahead.
15:41So, Hart, if you wouldn't mind,
15:43I have two questions here.
15:44Can you talk to us about the process
15:45of releasing this 10-second clip
15:47to now someone's in custody?
15:49How you all are working together
15:50to garner that information?
15:52Custody is the wrong word.
15:54Someone being detained, rather.
15:56Correct.
15:57And so, yeah, someone being detained,
15:58it led us to that point as far as,
15:59like, when we started,
16:01obviously, it's a fast move.
16:02It's a quick response right from the beginning.
16:04Once we get the call,
16:05and you pull up to a scene,
16:07obviously, as chaotic as it was,
16:09and then it gets to a point
16:10that now we're asking the public for help,
16:12tips come in,
16:13federal agents come in.
16:15At that point,
16:15police responders,
16:16detectives get to do their work,
16:18and so that's where we started.
16:20And then we ended up getting,
16:22obviously,
16:22to a point where we find someone
16:24of interest,
16:25we bring them in,
16:26but we're pretty,
16:27I'm pretty confident
16:29in the work that the men and women
16:30have done of the department,
16:32but I've got to respect their work.
16:34Some of them haven't gone to sleep.
16:35And so I have to respect the fact
16:37that they're going to continue
16:38and give us what we need
16:39in order to be able
16:40to prosecute somebody properly.
16:42We, we, we,
16:42yes,
16:43tell the mundo in the back.
16:44If there's a lot of people
16:45who would like to ask the same question,
16:46could you bring them in Spanish,
16:48something that's useful for the
16:49community?
16:50Yes,
16:50certainly that this department
16:52works very hard
16:53to find answers.
16:55In this moment,
16:56this was a very tragic situation
16:57in the city of Providence,
16:59but I would like to remind you
17:00to the community
17:01that this department
17:02always responds
17:04in a very important way.
17:07And we have a person
17:08at this moment
17:08who is of interest.
17:09We're collecting evidence
17:10that it's necessary
17:11to legally present it
17:13to the court
17:14to so put it in charge
17:15if it's necessary to present it.
17:16In this moment,
17:17we have some resources
17:18from the federal agencies
17:20as the federal agencies,
17:20as the fiscal of the state
17:22and also of other people.
17:23But I want to respect
17:24the work of my detectives
17:26and have what we need
17:27to be able to present
17:28to someone in the court
17:29positively.
17:33And the call to the public
17:34to collaborate
17:35with the investigation,
17:36what is it?
17:37Yes,
17:37thank you very much
17:37to the public.
17:38If you have any evidence
17:39in this moment
17:40or have you been there
17:41and have something
17:42that is important
17:43for the police,
17:43we have different
17:44tip lines
17:45and we have the opportunity
17:46to enter the police
17:47and call them
17:48and if they need
17:49that a police
17:49to go to the house
17:50to get that evidence,
17:51we'll do it.
17:52We'll do it.
17:52We'll do it.
17:52We'll do it.
17:52Again, I'm not going
18:00to confirm a comment
18:00because I think
18:01I have a responsibility
18:03to respect the integrity
18:04of this investigation.
18:05It's a process
18:06and it's complex
18:07and I don't want
18:08to be the one
18:09to sustain that process.
18:12And no one's charged.
18:13At this point,
18:14no, correct.
18:14And so that's the other thing.
18:15I'm not going to speculate
18:16on something
18:17without grounded facts.
18:20If we're going to charge someone,
18:21then we're going to charge somebody
18:22and I'm going to come here
18:22and tell you,
18:23you'll be the first one
18:24to know.
18:25Again, we're in the process
18:28of collecting evidence.
18:29We're in the process
18:29of typing search warrants
18:31as needed
18:31and we're in the process
18:32of doing what we need
18:34to do in order
18:34to be able
18:34to get those items.
18:36Right here.
18:36We heard of some people
18:38who work in the building
18:39who say they had
18:40some safety concerns
18:41specifically with the lack
18:42of cameras in this building
18:44where the shooting took place.
18:45Do you know if there were
18:46cameras in the building?
18:47What was the security
18:48like in that building?
18:49Again, I'm not going
18:49to comment as far
18:50as what's at this facility
18:53or what you're being told by
18:54or what information
18:55you're getting from somebody,
18:56but I can comment
18:56on the fact that
18:57we are working
18:58with what we have
18:59and obviously we have
19:00somebody that's
19:01at the police station,
19:02a person of interest,
19:03and we're going
19:04to continue to build
19:06that case
19:06in order to be able
19:07to charge that person.
19:08The FBI director
19:09is saying that
19:10they found this person
19:11of interest
19:12in a Coventry hotel
19:13because of a tip
19:14from the Providence police.
19:16Can you comment on that?
19:17The FBI director
19:18is saying that.
19:18Because of a tip
19:19of the Providence police.
19:20Again, I'm not going to...
19:21The FBI director
19:22is saying that
19:22they found the person
19:23of interest
19:23in a Coventry hotel
19:25because of a tip
19:25from the Providence police.
19:26So me personally,
19:27I'm not going to comment
19:27on what was told
19:28by another agency.
19:29What I'm telling you
19:30is the fact
19:31that we're going
19:32to continue
19:32this investigation.
19:33We're going to respect
19:34the integrity of it
19:35and we're going
19:36to work closely
19:36with the Attorney General's
19:37Office.
19:38What do you say
19:40to parents
19:40around the country
19:41and around the world?
19:42There are many
19:42international students
19:43at Brown
19:43who are sitting here today
19:45wondering how a gunman
19:46was able to get
19:47so close to students.
19:48Did they have a swipe card?
19:49Were they needed them
19:50somehow?
19:51What do you tell parents?
19:52I tell the parents
19:53that this is a great city.
19:55Brown has been
19:56an icon in the city.
19:57I think that
19:58this is an unfortunate
19:59incident,
20:00but I'll tell you
20:00that I tell the parents
20:01that if the kids
20:02are going to come
20:03to the city
20:03to be sure
20:04that we're going
20:04to do what we need
20:05to make sure
20:06that they're safe
20:06and if horrific
20:08incidents like this
20:08happen,
20:09we're going to do
20:09what we need to do
20:10to make sure
20:10that we hold
20:11those people accountable.
20:12Can you give us
20:14any information
20:15about the two people
20:17who died,
20:17if they were students
20:18or if they were going
20:19to get their names
20:19at all?
20:20As far as we understand,
20:25due to some travel,
20:30not all of the victim's
20:31families have been notified.
20:33And so I hope everyone
20:35can respect the fact
20:36that we cannot share
20:36victim information
20:37if we have not yet
20:39first notified the families.
20:40It is around the holidays
20:41and there are some people
20:42in transit,
20:43and so we need to complete,
20:45we need to allow
20:46for contact
20:48to be made
20:48before additional
20:49information is shared.
20:50I'm sorry
20:51that we're not able
20:52to share more.
20:53And I will just say,
20:55I know,
20:56and I said this
20:57at the outset,
20:57I know it is frustrating
20:58that we cannot share
21:00additional information
21:01on the investigation
21:02to date.
21:03However,
21:05as has been said now
21:06for almost 24 hours,
21:08bringing the individual
21:09responsible for this
21:10horrific act
21:11in our city
21:11to justice
21:12remains our top priority
21:14along with
21:15the healing
21:16of their survivors.
21:18Bringing that person
21:19to justice
21:20means having
21:22a thorough,
21:24complete,
21:24and tight investigation
21:26which then can be
21:27prosecuted successfully.
21:29That's how we bring justice
21:31to the individuals
21:33involved here.
21:34And so while it may be
21:35frustrating for certain
21:36members of our community
21:37to feel like
21:39we're not being
21:40fully forthcoming
21:41with some of the details,
21:42the reason
21:43that we are not sharing
21:44details that are
21:46unconfirmed
21:47is that it could
21:48compromise our prosecution.
21:50And hopefully everyone
21:51can appreciate
21:52that the top priority
21:54is in fact
21:55bringing a semblance
21:56of justice and closure.
21:57And the way in which
21:58we do that
21:59is with the strongest
22:00case possible
22:01that we can present
22:02that the Attorney General
22:03will prosecute.
22:04And so
22:05we will not share
22:07any details
22:07that we feel
22:08could compromise
22:09that future prosecution
22:10for the sake of justice
22:12is for the families.
22:13We know we've spoken
22:16to students
22:16who have been
22:18the victims
22:18of shootings
22:19in high school
22:20and now they're
22:21attending Brown.
22:22Describing this
22:23as a uniquely
22:23American experience
22:25to go to not one
22:26but two school shootings.
22:28What do you feel
22:29needs to be done
22:30to keep this
22:31from happening
22:31to stop that cycle
22:32of violence?
22:33And President Patrick,
22:34if you want to weigh in,
22:34as well, ma'am.
22:35Yeah, there's going
22:38to be many days,
22:41months, or I'm not sure
22:42how long,
22:43of both healing
22:45but of also moments
22:48to advocate
22:48for what might need
22:49to change.
22:51Speaking for myself,
22:52at least,
22:52that's not today.
22:54We still have
22:55an active investigation
22:56underway.
22:57We still have students
22:58in the hospital.
23:00I won't be shy
23:01about sharing
23:01what I think
23:02needs to be done
23:02to make my community safer.
23:05But I'm not doing
23:05that today.
23:07What I will say
23:08is when I was
23:10at the hospital today,
23:12one of the students
23:14that showed
23:14tremendous courage
23:16literally said to me,
23:21you know,
23:22that active shooter drill
23:23they made me do
23:24in high school
23:25actually helped me
23:26in the moment.
23:29Which,
23:31at the same time,
23:32provided me hope
23:33and was so sad.
23:38We shouldn't have
23:39to do active shooter drills.
23:42But it helped.
23:43And the reason it helped
23:45and the reason
23:45we do these drills
23:46is because it's
23:46so damn frequent.
23:49And so,
23:50there'll be plenty of time,
23:51at least from my office,
23:52and I don't speak
23:53for any of the other
23:54public officials here.
23:54They're welcome
23:55to share
23:56if they so choose.
23:59There'll be plenty of time
23:59to talk about
24:00what advocacy
24:01and policy changes
24:02should be made.
24:03But we're still
24:04very, very much
24:06hard at work
24:06at the task at hand.
24:08And that is
24:09to be able
24:10to bring charges forward
24:13on the person responsible.
24:15Sir?
24:16Can you just look
24:17at the nature
24:17of the conditions again?
24:18I know you did that
24:19this morning,
24:19but is everybody
24:21out of the woods?
24:22The conditions
24:23have not changed
24:24as far as I understand.
24:25And so,
24:26as was said
24:27earlier this morning,
24:29one individual
24:30has been discharged.
24:31One individual
24:32remains in critical
24:33but stable condition,
24:34and the other seven
24:35are in stable condition.
24:36I will say,
24:38I had conversations
24:41with four of the students,
24:42and they were talking
24:46to their healthcare providers.
24:50And so,
24:51if there are status changes,
24:52we'll be sure to share them.
24:53Mayor,
24:53I think one year for you,
24:54people are asking,
24:55are you expecting
24:56to do continuous status
24:57updates throughout the day
24:59such as this,
25:00or can they expect
25:00at a future press conference
25:01that there will be
25:02additional information?
25:03What is your plan
25:04for keeping the public
25:05informed throughout this afternoon?
25:06Yeah, thank you.
25:07Our expectation
25:08is that this is likely
25:09our last press conference
25:10here at the Brook Street
25:11fire station.
25:13We set up here last night
25:15because we were
25:16on the edge of campus.
25:17There was a lot of work
25:18happening all around us.
25:20They're still processing
25:21evidence on campus,
25:22but that crime scene
25:23is wrapping up.
25:24Most of the streets,
25:26other than immediately
25:27outside of the building,
25:28have been reopened.
25:30And so,
25:30we do expect
25:31to provide future updates.
25:33We will likely provide those
25:34at the Providence
25:35Public Safety Complex,
25:37and we will provide them
25:38as there are
25:39meaningful updates to share.
25:41I know that it can be
25:43frustrating for some
25:46when the update is
25:47that there's no update,
25:48but in the absence
25:50of progress
25:52and what's important
25:54is that the investigation
25:55take the time
25:56that it needs
25:57to be right.
25:59And so,
25:59when we have no update
26:00to share,
26:01we will say
26:01there's no update to share.
26:03And when we have news
26:04to share,
26:04we will share that news.
26:06But our expectation
26:07is that this is
26:08our last press conference
26:08here at the Brook Street
26:09fire station
26:10as we're entering
26:11sort of a new chapter
26:13as the immediate crime scene
26:14winds down
26:15and we move on
26:17to what we hope
26:18will be a prosecution
26:19and to try to help
26:21our community heal
26:22and we talk more
26:24about things
26:24like community resources
26:25which we've announced
26:26today.
26:26You mentioned family services
26:27as a crisis support line
26:29that you might be able to.
26:29Thank you, Governor.
26:30Yes, for Rhode Islanders,
26:32Family Service of Rhode Island
26:34also has a crisis support line.
26:36The phone number
26:37is 401-854-6678.
26:42That's 854-6678
26:44and the folks
26:46at Family Service
26:47of Rhode Island
26:47are extraordinary professionals
26:49who unfortunately
26:50have a lot of experience
26:51in this area
26:52and are a resource
26:53available to us
26:54and I know Margaret
26:55Holland McDuff
26:55from Family Service
26:56is here
26:56and we're grateful
26:57for her help
26:58along the way.
26:59Colonel, one more question.
27:00Colonel, do you need anything
27:01from the public?
27:03In other words,
27:04is there still possibly
27:05someone out there
27:06that may have information
27:07that you need
27:08or I mean the students
27:10are now being allowed
27:11to leave the campus.
27:12Does that mean
27:12that there's no potential witness here?
27:14Where does it stand
27:15that the public would...
27:17Thank you, John.
27:18I think that, yeah,
27:19the call out to the public
27:20is to, you know,
27:20evidence that they think
27:21might be worth it
27:22for us to look at.
27:23Anything that they suspect
27:24would be important
27:24for the police department
27:25to look at,
27:26we're definitely welcome that.
27:29And so the message is,
27:30please reach out.
27:31I think that that's
27:32one of the strongest things
27:32the province police department
27:33has is the partnership
27:34that we have.
27:35We are different community members
27:36as well as different
27:37colleges throughout the city.
27:39And so if they think
27:39that there's something
27:40that's important to us,
27:41please enter our way
27:42because,
27:42we'll definitely use it.
27:43It might be something
27:44that's important
27:45that you may think
27:45is not,
27:46but for us it is.
27:47Sir, go ahead.
27:48Is this a man
27:48in his 30s still?
27:49Can we still describe
27:50him as a man
27:50in his 30s?
27:51A person of interest?
27:53A man in his 30s?
27:53So the person detained
27:55is actually a person
27:56in his 20s,
27:57in his 20s.
27:58Can you clarify,
27:59is this officially a suspect?
28:01Is this someone in custody?
28:02What should we call this person?
28:03Have they been arrested?
28:03You should call this person
28:04that we detain someone
28:05of interest at this point.
28:06Detain someone of interest?
28:07Yes.
28:07Mr. Brown has sirens
28:10on their campus,
28:11emergency sirens
28:11to alert people
28:12in cases like this.
28:14Did those sirens go off
28:15and if not, why?
28:17So yesterday,
28:18I don't think they went off
28:19and I believe the fact
28:20that it was fast.
28:22We had a quick response
28:23here to the police department
28:24but there was a message.
28:25I'm not sure
28:26that call went out.
28:26So Chief,
28:27I don't know
28:27if you can even go down.
28:33The sirens did not go off.
28:34The original information
28:36that we received
28:37was from the officer
28:38who did not receive
28:39the call.
28:40The officer saw
28:41some of the students
28:43running from the location
28:44and so it was
28:45an immediate response.
28:47Can you talk about
28:47what went into alerting
28:51the greater
28:52brown area community
28:53and people who aren't
28:54brown residents,
28:55maybe RISD students
28:57or faculty,
28:58people in that area
28:59going into alerting others?
29:01For our community,
29:02it was our emergency
29:03notification system,
29:04some of which
29:04is shared by RISD.
29:06The rest was from
29:08the city of Providence.
29:10Colonel, can you just,
29:11Colonel,
29:11go ahead, please.
29:13I know Colonel
29:14Pat,
29:14can you tell us
29:16does the person
29:17of interest
29:18have any connection
29:19to the Brown University
29:20community
29:21and there was some report
29:23that he went into
29:23that building
29:24and yelled
29:24in the classroom.
29:25Do you have any
29:26more information
29:27about that?
29:28So, again,
29:29it's all details
29:30that are important.
29:31It's all the part
29:32of the complex
29:33investigation
29:33that I spoke about
29:34earlier.
29:35I'm not ready
29:36to confirm
29:36or comment on any
29:37of that.
29:37Again, I've got to
29:38respect the process
29:39and so at this point,
29:40we're just going to
29:41continue like the mayor
29:42stated.
29:43It's complex,
29:43but we want to make
29:44sure that we have
29:44a successful prosecution
29:46and that's more
29:47important to me
29:47than right now
29:48to give you something
29:49that just, you know,
29:52it's not appropriate.
29:52Colonel, have you
29:54started a process
29:55of search warrants
29:57of any sort of
29:58legal process
29:59to sort of figure
30:01out any motive?
30:02Yes, so at this point
30:03we're coordinating
30:03with the attorney
30:04general's office.
30:05We're working very
30:06closely with them.
30:06We're collecting
30:07evidence.
30:08We're in the process
30:08also of interviewing
30:10individuals and so
30:11that's where we're at.
30:12Now, that's
30:12a state prosecution
30:13as opposed to a federal.
30:15That's correct, sir.
30:15Yes.
30:16Colonel, the incident
30:17happened yesterday
30:18around 4 o'clock.
30:20Can you just touch on
30:20it sounds like
30:21within 12 hours
30:23you had a person
30:24of interest.
30:25Can you just talk about
30:26that?
30:27That's a short window.
30:28It's hard work.
30:29It's just, you know,
30:30it's all hands on deck.
30:32An incident of this nature
30:33I think takes a lot
30:34of resources.
30:35I think the fact
30:36that we work closely
30:36with our federal partners
30:37and different municipalities,
30:39the men and women
30:40of the province
30:40police department,
30:41the detectives
30:42outstanding work
30:43and I think that's why
30:44we have been able
30:45to move forward
30:48as we have
30:50in progress
30:50in such a fast manner
30:52in order to have
30:53somebody detained
30:53at this point.
30:54Colonel,
30:54what basis
30:56are you detaining
30:56this man
30:57and how long
30:58do you have
30:59to further the investigation
31:01until you either
31:02have to charge him
31:03or release him?
31:04Again, you know,
31:04in a situation like this
31:05we have basis
31:07enough to bring
31:09somebody in
31:09based on
31:10a lot of different facts
31:11and so those facts
31:12are the ones
31:13that are allowing us
31:14to have that person
31:15detained at this point
31:15which I cannot comment
31:17as far as what those facts are yet.
31:18We have a question
31:19for President Paxton now.
31:20How long do you have
31:21to charge him
31:21before you have
31:22to release him?
31:25Again, it's moving
31:26pretty fast
31:26and we will have
31:27an answer
31:27as fast as we can.
31:29President Paxton,
31:29if you can,
31:30we know that these students
31:31were studying
31:32for the finals
31:33in the midst
31:33of their schoolwork
31:35here
31:35and now
31:36students have been told
31:37classes are canceled,
31:39finals are canceled.
31:40Can you talk about
31:41the complete shift
31:42that this community
31:43is in right now
31:44going from studying
31:45to now almost
31:46for those families?
31:49Yeah.
31:49So thanks for the question.
31:51It is a big shift
31:52and not the way
31:53we hope to end
31:54this semester,
31:55obviously.
31:56You know,
31:57I was in
31:57what we call
31:58the RATI
31:59or main dining hall
32:00today.
32:00There were a lot
32:01of students gathered
32:02there.
32:03They are amazing
32:05and they're
32:06supporting each other.
32:09They're good.
32:10I don't have the emotions
32:11you're feeling right now
32:12because you care
32:13for the kids.
32:15Yeah, I do.
32:16And, you know,
32:17right now I think
32:18as the mayor
32:19was saying,
32:20the students
32:20in the hospital,
32:21I've talked to
32:22all but one of them,
32:23the students on campus,
32:25there's just a lot
32:25of gratitude
32:26right now
32:27and they're
32:27remarkable.
32:30All right,
32:30that's it for now.
32:31We will keep you posted
32:32on future updates.
32:34Again,
32:34our expectation
32:35is that this is
32:36the last update
32:37here at the
32:37Brook Street Fire Station.
32:39If you are not yet
32:40on Josh's press list,
32:41Josh, raise your hand.
32:42He's there.
32:43That's how you will be
32:44apprised of future updates
32:46and our expectation
32:46is that we'll be
32:47at the Providence
32:48Public Safety Complex
32:49for future updates.
32:50Thank you very much.
33:00We'll be right back for now.
33:05You