Law enforcement officials have identified the person of interest in the tragic mass shooting at Brown University as Benjamin Erickson, a 24-year-old man from Wisconsin. Authorities detained Erickson at a hotel room near the university campus on Sunday morning following reports that he had driven from Wisconsin to Providence the previous day.
According to sources, Erickson served as an infantryman in the U.S. Army from May 2021 through November 2024, with no deployments recorded and leaving service in the rank of specialist. Public records indicate his residence prior to the incident was an apartment in Washington, D.C., though he previously lived in Wisconsin.
The shooter fired more than 40 rounds with a handgun during the attack at Brown University’s Providence campus Saturday evening while students were studying for final exams. Police confirmed Erickson was apprehended around 3:45 a.m. Sunday at a hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island—approximately 15 miles southwest of the university.
Investigators reported discovering a revolver equipped with a specialized laser light in Erickson’s hotel room, which reportedly aided efforts to locate him. Law enforcement sources indicated Erickson has a history of mental health challenges and is under active review for potential connections to Brown University. Authorities have yet to disclose his motive or confirm any prior criminal record.
No official photographs of Erickson have been released by law enforcement despite social media posts circulating images labeled as the suspect’s likeness.
