Brown University Shooter Still at Large After Person of Interest Released, FBI and Locals Intensify Manhunt
The manhunt for the Brown University shooter ramped up late Sunday after law enforcement announced that the person initially detained in connection with the deadly attack had been released — with officials now admitting they’re no closer to identifying the gunman.
Just 24 hours after FBI Director Kash Patel promised an “all-out 24/7 campaign” to bring justice, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha confirmed that the individual held by authorities was no longer a suspect. The shooter, who murdered two students and wounded nine more in a targeted assault, remains on the loose.
Authorities Walk Back Detainment, Offer No Clear Answers
“There was some degree of evidence,” Neronha claimed at a press conference, “but that evidence now points in a different direction.” In other words, law enforcement got it wrong — and they’re walking back the only action they’ve taken so far while the killer disappears into the wind.
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez, who initially stated authorities weren’t seeking any other suspects, backtracked Sunday evening, saying the person in custody was not the individual caught on surveillance footage during the shooting. That admission immediately reignited fears that the real killer is still roaming free — and possibly planning something worse.
The release leaves the public with more questions than answers. Despite the FBI’s involvement, a digital media portal, geolocation tracking, and a so-called full mobilization, authorities now say they don’t have a solid lead.
Media Leak Complicates Case — AG Points Fingers
Instead of acknowledging mistakes, Attorney General Neronha scolded the media for publishing the name of the now-released person of interest. “It’s hard to put that back in the bottle,” he said, attempting to shift the focus to press coverage instead of law enforcement missteps.
What’s more concerning is that even with federal surveillance technology, cell tower mapping, and days of digital evidence collection, officials claim they don’t know who carried out one of the worst campus attacks in recent Rhode Island history.
FBI Remains Engaged — But Faith in the System Is Fracturing
Governor Dan McKee said he contacted FBI Director Kash Patel directly to inform him of the release. Patel, who has promised nonstop coordination from federal agents, reportedly assured the governor that the FBI would stay on the case — even after local authorities fumbled the initial lead.
Despite the continued presence of federal agents, many are now questioning how such a well-resourced operation could still have no suspect in custody, no confirmed motive, and no answers for the families of the dead.
Officials Say No Ongoing Threat — Community Doesn’t Buy It
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley tried to calm nerves by insisting that “no specific or credible threats” have been made since the shooting, but that’s little comfort for a city now fully aware that a mass shooter walked into a campus building and vanished into thin air.
Residents and students alike are demanding transparency and results — not press briefings filled with vague reassurances and bureaucratic doublespeak. Many are already drawing comparisons to past cases where early missteps derailed justice and allowed suspects to evade capture for weeks or longer.
For now, the only certainty is that the shooter is still out there — and the law enforcement agencies involved have a long way to go before regaining public trust.