On Tuesday, December 16, the pursuit operation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the police for the gunman involved in the shooting incident at Brown University in Rhode Island entered its fourth day. During a press conference on Tuesday, authorities once again urged the public to provide clues, including home surveillance footage and videos taken by Tesla vehicles.
The Providence police also released clearer photos and videos of the suspect on Tuesday. The FBI described the gunman as approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall (about 1.73 meters), muscular build, wearing dark clothing, a mask, and a knitted hat.
The fatal shooting incident at Brown University occurred last Saturday, December 13, resulting in two deaths and nine injuries. The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the shooter.
Oscar L. Perez Jr., the Chief of the Providence Police Department, stated during Tuesday’s press briefing that residents living in the neighborhoods near Wadman Avenue and Hope Street should submit home surveillance camera footage, including videos from vehicles equipped with cameras like Tesla, with footage dating back “at least one week.”
Authorities also urged the public to pay attention to the suspect’s body movements, postures, gait, and other characteristics in the new videos to help identify the individual.
Chief Perez mentioned that they had received hundreds of tips, approximately 200 of which were deemed valid. He expressed gratitude for the public’s active cooperation in providing leads, emphasizing its significance.
The Providence police stated that newly released surveillance footage revealed the suspect scouting the residential area near Brown University hours before the shooting on Saturday.
Perez said during the press conference on Tuesday, “It is common for criminals to do reconnaissance before committing a crime.”
Authorities did not confirm whether the shooter was a current student or alumni of Brown University.
Peter Neronha, the Rhode Island Attorney General, mentioned on Tuesday that some footage from inside the Brown University buildings had not been released as it depicted the chaotic scenes post-shooting without the suspect present.
Neronha stated, “What we have released is the video of the suspect.” He added that other footage might be disclosed during the legal proceedings.
The Attorney General described the search efforts as expanding outward from the central focus on the Brown University campus, creating a grid-like search area.
Neronha mentioned during the press briefing that on Wednesday, the search team has a “good chance of searching some areas that have not been searched before.”
Christina Paxson, the President of Brown University, expressed the school’s commitment to ensuring safety. She emphasized that Brown University has always prioritized the safety, peace, and well-being of the community. Any doubts raised about the school saddened her deeply.
“We understand that over time, people may instinctively seek accountability for tragic events like this,” she said. “Anxiety and fear are natural, but the responsibility lies with the shooter.”