A 24-four-year-old man who was being considered a person of interest in the recent Brown University shooting, which claimed two lives, is being released from custody without charges, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed in a press conference.
The man, identified as Benjamin Erickson, was being freed as Providence Police Chief Col Oscar Perez said there was not enough evidence to prosecute him for the shooting, which also left nine others injured.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha also added that the evidence “now points in a different direction”, according to BBC.
Brown University shooting: ‘Doesn’t appear to be same person from CCTV footage’
In the conference, Perez said investigators did not think the person detained was the same person identified in CCTV footage of the suspect that was released on the day of the attack.
Perez also added that investigators were not looking at other suspects are instead working on gathering more evidence into the shooting to expedite their probe.
Who is Benjamin Erickson?
While Erickson had not been publicly identified by the police as the person of interest, his identity had been confirmed by law enforcement sources, according to CNN. Erickson reportedly hails from Wisconsin and had reportedly worked as an infantry soldier from May 2021 until November 2024, NBC reported.
Brown University cancels all classes
In the aftermath of the fatal shooting, the university has also cancelled all its classes, exams, papers and projects for the rest of the fall semester.
“This choice was made out of our profound concern for all students, faculty and staff on our campus. In the immediate aftermath of these devastating events, we recognise that learning and assessment are significantly hindered in the short term and that many students and others will wish to depart campus. Students are free to leave if they are able,” Francis Doyle III, the provost of Brown University, said in an online post.
Doyle acknowledged that the cancellation of exams and classes will leave students with questions about unfinished courses. He said Brown would have more guidance in the days ahead.
“For the moment, we encourage everyone to focus on their own safety and well-being,” Doyle said.
The incident happened Saturday afternoon in a classroom during final exams. The shooting paralyzed the Providence campus, with students sheltering in place for hours. Nine students with gunshot wounds were taken to the hospital, with one in critical condition.
The carnage followed at least 75 school shootings in the United States this year. According to Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least 391 mass shootings and 13,929 shooting deaths in the US this year alone.