I can't be the only who thinks something is seriously wrong with the investigation into who shot up a classroom at Brown University last Saturday, right? It's nearly three full days since the still-unknown shooter burst into an econ study session in the Barus and Holley Building, shouted something, and opened fire on the students, killing two and injuring nine, and all we know for sure is that the investigating authorities are doing a pretty good Keystone Kops impression.
Now, it could very well be that law enforcement is secretly on top of everything. Perhaps they have their man in their sights – 5'8" and stocky is the incredibly detailed description given – and some good news will be announced soon. This was the case in the Moscow, Idaho murders of four college students. The small-town police force offered scant few details to the public – and took a lot of heat for what from the outside appeared to be a bungled case – but in fact were onto their guy pretty quickly.
Maybe that's what is happening right now in Providence, Rhode Island.
Then again, it could also be that the case was botched from the very start. Jesse Watters did a pretty good job laying it all out on his Monday night show, noting that everyone from Brown University President Christina Paxson to Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez were giving off an air of incompetence.
🚨 BREAKING: Clueless Local Leaders in Providence just admitted they’re “TIRED” searching for the BROWN UNIVERSITY SHOOTER 🚨
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) December 16, 2025
The Mayor of Providence went out for PIZZA while the SUSPECT was STILL-AT-LARGE.
What is GOING ON with this INVESTIGATION? Where is the SECURITY FOOTAGE… pic.twitter.com/Bs9p2mKqsp
Here's what we know for sure. The unknown gunman entered the classroom at 4:05 p.m., with many present saying he shouted something before opening fire. What he shouted, no one seems to know. He let loose around 40 shots before scurrying off into the void. It wasn't until 17 minutes later that an alert went out to the students, thus beginning a campus lockdown that went on for 12 hours.
Despite Brown University reportedly having a whopping 800 security cameras placed around campus, the best images of the suspect we have to go on seem to be from a Ring camera. Some folks on X noted we have better photos of Bigfoot.
#BREAKING: The FBI and @ProvidenceRIPD are releasing new images of a person of interest in the mass shooting at Brown University on 12/13/25. The #FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the individual.… pic.twitter.com/OhpnsN9fds
— FBI Boston (@FBIBoston) December 15, 2025
Weirdly, Police Chief Perez said at a Monday press conference that these are the only images they have so far. Despite the 800 cameras and thousands of students with cell phones at the ready.
Things were confusing right from the get-go. The night of the shootings, a full six hours later, authorities held a press conference at an area fire house. The most notable thing to come out of it was the fact that President Paxson had no clue – or wasn't willing to say – whose class was shot up, what they were studying, or what was shouted by the gunman. Ms. Paxson has not appeared at subsequent media availabilities.
READ MORE: Murdered Brown University Students Were Bright Lights and Upstanding Community Members Lost to Us (VIP)
Things got interesting when law enforcement took a person of interest into custody in the wee hours of Sunday morning, only to release him that evening, saying they didn't have enough evidence to prosecute him. Then, despite not having a person in custody, officials reassured students and the public that they were safe and there was no danger to the community.
Hm.
The Daily Caller's Amber Duke made a very good observation on Monday (included in the Jesse Watters video above) that the most obvious reason to make such a statement is because police know it was a targeted attack, thus the community was indeed safe. As Duke observed, most school shootings end with the shooter being killed, apprehended, or committing suicide, and that doesn't seem to be the case here. Thus, was it a targeting shooting?
RedState's Jennifer Oliver O'Connell did a lovely write-up about Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, the two victims who died of their wounds. The thing that pops is that Ella Cook was the vice president of the campus chapter of the College Republicans. An avowed conservative on an uber-liberal campus – could she possibly have been the target?
What the shooter shouted is also an intriguing and unanswered questioned. Several people heard it, but none could remember what was screamed. When a reporter pushed for answers at a Monday presser, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley shut down questioning and ended the press conference.
Then there's the fact that the study session was for the Principles of Economics class, which is taught by Professor Rachel Friedberg. Friedberg, in addition to teaching economics, is also Faculty Associate of the Program in Judaic Studies. A teaching assistant was leading the review, so Friedberg was not in the classroom at the time of the shooting.
So, we're left with lots of questions and precious few answers. This is how conspiracy theories are born, and, as we conservatives know quite well, those oftentimes turn out to be right on the money.
You can be sure RedState will stay on top of this story, so be sure to stick with us for the latest.
