Brown University Manhunt Stalls: Key 'Person of Interest' Released, Investigation Resets

BREAKING: Providence Police Pivot After Manhunt Target Walks Free

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The high-stakes Brown University shooting investigation was abruptly thrown into turmoil late Tuesday, forcing Providence law enforcement to reset their intensive, multi-day manhunt. The major setback occurred when the primary individual identified as a "person of interest" in the near-campus gun violence incident was released without charge, authorities confirmed early Wednesday morning.

The decision has shattered the immediate hopes of both the Providence community and the Brown University student body, who were anticipating a swift resolution to the terrifying incident that occurred just blocks from the historic campus perimeter over the weekend.

The person, whose identity has not been released by the Providence Police Department (PPD), had been detained and questioned for over 36 hours. However, investigators determined they lacked the necessary compelling evidence required to hold the individual or file an arrest warrant, forcing a dramatic and immediate shift in strategy.

"We believed we had strong reason to bring this individual in for questioning regarding the proximity to the scene and certain behavioral indicators," PPD Chief Hugh Delaney stated in a brief press conference held outside police headquarters. "But our mission is justice based on facts. The evidence, at this juncture, simply did not meet the legal threshold for prosecution. We are pivoting, and we are intensifying our efforts. This case is far from closed."

The Sudden Reversal and Search for New Leads

The release marks a significant—and highly visible—step backward for an investigation that had monopolized local police resources. For days, the PPD and the Brown University Department of Public Safety (DPS) had locked down segments of the surrounding neighborhoods, reviewing hundreds of hours of surveillance footage and conducting intense street patrols.

This unexpected reversal means detectives are now scrambling to re-analyze evidence and turn their focus to anonymous tips and secondary surveillance cameras. The pressure is mounting on investigators, as every hour without an arrest heightens the sense of vulnerability among students and faculty concerned about campus safety.

The shooting victim, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was reportedly not affiliated directly with Brown, remains hospitalized but stable. Their cooperation with investigators is crucial, but leads have proven frustratingly opaque.

Heightened Campus Anxiety and Security Measures

The initial detention of the person of interest had provided a temporary blanket of security for the prestigious university. Now, that relief has evaporated, replaced by palpable anxiety.

University officials immediately sent out a campus-wide alert informing students of the development and confirming that DPS patrols would be substantially increased, remaining at the heightened "Red Alert" status until the suspect is apprehended.

"We understand this news is unsettling for the Brown community," read a statement from Brown President Christina H. Paxson. "We are in constant communication with the Providence Police and Rhode Island State Police, demanding every available resource be deployed to solve this unsolved crime. The safety of our students is paramount, and we urge everyone to remain vigilant and utilize the resources provided by DPS."

The investigation is now prioritizing enhanced forensic analysis of the physical evidence recovered at the scene—including ballistics data—and a renewed effort to canvas local businesses and residents who may have captured the suspect on private security systems before or after the incident. Police are urging anyone with information related to the Brown University shooting to come forward immediately, promising anonymity as they race against the clock to bring the true perpetrator to justice.