Authorities probing the mass shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, announced the release of a man initially detained as a person of interest after concluding that evidence no longer supported holding him as part of the case.

The decision followed a thorough review by law enforcement, which determined that early indicators pointing to the twenty-four-year-old Wisconsin man no longer aligned with the emerging body of evidence, prompting officials to abandon his status as connected to the attack and resume an open search for the perpetrator.

The fatal shooting occurred on the afternoon of December thirteenth inside the Barus and Holley Engineering Building during a final exam review session, where a lone gunman armed with an unidentified firearm opened fire, killing two students and wounding nine others.

Hundreds of officers from local, state and federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, responded to the chaotic scene as campus lockdowns were imposed and later lifted while the suspect remained at large.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha acknowledged that evidence initially suggested the individual detained at a Coventry hotel might be tied to the crime, but added that subsequent investigation directed authorities “in a different direction” and revealed insufficient corroboration to justify charges or continued detention.

Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez said that although search warrants had been executed and some evidence examined, it did not meet the threshold necessary for prosecution, and stressed that the overall inquiry remains active and vigorous.

Law enforcement officials reiterated their commitment to identifying and apprehending the shooter, urging the public to share any relevant video footage or information that might assist the ongoing investigation.

Surveillance imagery released shortly after the attack showed a male suspect dressed in dark clothing fleeing the campus on foot, and authorities have canvassed neighbourhoods and reviewed camera systems in search of additional leads.

The tragedy has reverberated across the Brown University community, where classes and exams were cancelled for the remainder of the semester and vigils were held for victims.

Among the wounded is a recent graduate from Durham Academy who remains in critical condition, while other survivors have been treated and released.

Officials emphasised that while the person once considered a potential lead has been freed, investigative resources remain fully mobilised to bring clarity and accountability in the wake of the campus violence.