Brown University live: Search for suspect after two deaths in mass shooting

“Shootings like the one that happened at Brown today and the ones that happen every day in this country are not inevitable. It doesn’t have to be this way. The only reason it is this way is because our leaders refuse to do anything substantial.

Even if you completely disagree with me, we have to agree that there are things we can do, even if they are small, to address this crisis that no right-thinking person wants to continue. If we decided to just do something after every shooting, even a small thing, we could reduce gun violence tremendously.

As always, I’m happy to meet any Republican who wants to do something about this. I can respect people who disagree, but I cannot accept that there is nothing we can do if we all agree that this crisis needs to be addressed. I’m not just talking about mass shootings either. I’m talking gun suicide, daily gun violence, accidental shootings, everything. We can decide to do something, or we can continue to debate this.”

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee told CNN that state authorities would investigate Brown University campus buildings to ensure they are safe enough for students. He said the review will take place some time after the active situation is under control.

“Everything has to be looked at on a daily basis and we do that, and we prepare for emergencies,” McKee said. “This is no exception… Until we actually know more, it is difficult to comment on whether the situation was as safe as it should be, but we will monitor this.”

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley told reporters late Saturday not to expect any additional briefings during the overnight hours of Sunday morning.

He said an impromptu briefing could be convened if there is a major development in the investigation.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley told reporters Saturday evening that there would be an “enhanced and visible” police presence in the city on Sunday.

He told residents not to cancel their plans for Sunday, but warned them that law enforcement personnel would still be highly visible as the hunt for the suspect in the mass shooting at Brown University continues.

Two students are dead and at least nine others are injured after a gunman shot up a classroom at a prestigious Ivy League university in Rhode Island and appeared to walk off campus without a trace.

The mass shooting at Brown University in Providence on Saturday sent campus buildings and parts of the city into lockdown, with students barricading themselves in buildings for hours as hundreds of law enforcement officers swarmed the city.

The suspect appeared to have escaped before police arrived and — aside from one brief surveillance video showing a person dressed in black around a corner off campus — virtually disappeared.

After a lockdown of more than six hours — and with a suspect still at large — Providence Mayor Brett Smiley told locals not to cancel their plans for Sunday.

“We do not recommend canceling these events at this time. It is a personal choice whether to cancel your holiday party, but we do not believe this is necessary,” he said.

Smiley said he has no reason to believe there is an ongoing threat in the area.

“We really believe it’s safe to go to church in the morning,” he said.

Rachel Friedberg, an economics professor at Brown, told Ocean State Media that the mass shooting at Brown University happened in her classroom. She was not in the room at the time but was given details by her teaching assistant.

“The room has stadium seating with doors that enter at the top,” Friedberg said. “He said the shooter came through the doors, shouted something – he couldn’t remember what he shouted – and started shooting.”

“Students began rushing to escape the shooter, trying to get lower in the stadium seats, and people were shot.”