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The alert and call were sent to students immediately by DPS following the incident, urging students to hide, run or evacuate until further notice.
The article begins by detailing a severe active shooter incident on campus, citing a Providence Fire radio broadcast which reported a significant casualty count of at least 20 victims. These individuals were reportedly shot in proximity to key university buildings, specifically Barus and Holley and Macmillan Hall. Further updates from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) at 5:27 p.m. pinpointed additional shots fired near Governor Street, indicating a potentially wider scope of the incident. Critically, a 5:10 p.m. alert from DPS confirmed that despite the unfolding events, no suspects had been apprehended and taken into custody, leaving the campus community in a state of heightened alarm and uncertainty regarding the perpetrator's status.
Immediately following the reports, visual evidence, specifically video footage acquired by The Herald, depicted an overwhelming and urgent response from law enforcement. The footage clearly showed numerous police officers actively engaged on campus grounds, accompanied by a considerable deployment of emergency vehicles that converged on the surrounding roadways. Further distressing visuals revealed police personnel diligently appearing to provide aid and assistance to several individuals who were observed lying on the ground in the vicinity of the Sciences Library, underscoring the severity of the situation and the immediate need for emergency medical attention for the victims.
In response to the escalating crisis, university authorities swiftly implemented extensive safety measures, placing several buildings across the entire campus under immediate lockdown. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) acted with urgency, dispatching critical alerts and calls to students as soon as the incident unfolded. These communications provided explicit instructions, guiding students to either hide in place, run to safety, or evacuate the premises, advising them to remain vigilant until further official notice. A notable point of confusion arose when an initial DPS alert at 4:50 p.m. indicated that a suspect had been taken into custody. However, this critical piece of information was subsequently contradicted by a follow-up alert issued just 20 minutes later, which clarified that, in fact, no suspects were currently in custody, leading to renewed apprehension among the community.
Katie Sun, a student from the class of 2028, shared her harrowing firsthand experience of the event. She was reportedly engrossed in her studies within the lobby of the Engineering Research Center when, at approximately 4:10 p.m., she distinctly heard the sound of gunshots. Her immediate reaction was one of profound fear and urgency, prompting her to evacuate the building without hesitation, compelled to leave all her personal belongings behind in her rush to find safety. She sought refuge by running directly to her dorm. Reflecting on the traumatic experience, Sun described it as 'quite terrifying,' emphasizing that the sounds of the shots seemed to originate from the area where classrooms are typically located, suggesting a close proximity to the danger.
Refath Bari, a graduate student, also provided an account of the sudden and alarming onset of the incident. He was in the process of descending the stairs within the Engineering Research Center when the unmistakable sounds of gunshots pierced the air. Bari recalled an immediate atmosphere of 'confusion' that quickly transitioned into a chaotic scene as 'people started running.' In an effort to escape the immediate threat, he described running 'as fast as I could to the other side of the street towards Thayer Street.' There, he managed to connect with another student, and together, they found temporary safety by entering her apartment, highlighting the widespread fear and need for shelter during the unfolding crisis.
Sruti Peddi, another student from the class of 2028, communicated her experience to The Herald, detailing how she was situated at Zinneken’s on Thayer Street when a cascade of urgent text messages and phone calls began arriving from her friends. These communications urgently informed her that they had heard gunshots in the vicinity of Hegeman Hall. Peddi further noted that she subsequently heard information suggesting that the shooter had reportedly left the initial scene and was observed 'walking up Thayer Street.' This development caused her considerable 'worry' given her location on the same street, especially as she witnessed the rapid movement of sirens passing by, indicating the intensity of the emergency response and the proximity of the danger.
At the time of this report, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) had not yet issued an immediate official response to the requests for comment from The Herald, indicating that official details or clarifications were still pending. The article concludes by stressing the dynamic nature of the situation, explicitly stating that 'This is a developing story.' Readers are therefore advised to 'Check back for updates,' signaling that new information is expected to emerge as the investigation progresses and events continue to unfold, highlighting the fluid and uncertain state of affairs.