A U.S. Army sniper, initially detained in connection with the mass shooting at Brown University, has been released. Benjamin Erickson, hailing from Wisconsin, was apprehended following a Saturday incident that resulted in at least two fatalities and nine injuries, as reported by the Washington Post. Authorities took him into custody early Sunday at a Hampton Inn in Coventry, located approximately 15 miles from the Providence campus, after federal agents traced him using geolocation based on a tip from local police. However, by Sunday evening, the attorney general announced that while initial evidence had implicated Erickson, new findings had shifted the investigation in another direction, leading to his release.

Earlier reports on Sunday disclosed that Erickson was neither a Rhode Island resident nor a Brown University student. He had driven 17 hours from Wisconsin to Rhode Island before the incident, according to CNN sources. Although Erickson was never formally charged or identified as a suspect, NBC reported that authorities were considering his extensive mental health history. Prior to his detention, a manhunt was underway for a suspect described as ‘wearing all black’ near Waterman Street. Erickson’s LinkedIn profile reveals his service as a U.S. Army infantry soldier, where he trained as a sniper, handled various firearms, and served as a rifleman from 2021 to 2024. His service earned him a good conduct medal, as per his LinkedIn details.

The profile also highlights his involvement in security duties near the president and participation in funeral ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery. Erickson expressed interest in volunteering for various causes, including animal welfare, civil rights, gender equity, public safety, and support for refugees and migrants. After high school, he pursued online classes at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, focusing on psychology, before transferring to Brown for the fall semester following his military discharge. In light of his arrest, former classmate Bryce Jankowski recalled Erickson as well-behaved and exceptionally intelligent.

He told CNN he did not remember Erickson making any concerning statements, harboring extremist views or having any behavioral challenges. After high school, Jankowski said Erickson told him he was in sniper school with the US military. They had recently reconnected, at which point Erickson ‘said he was doing good. ‘He said he was living in a hotel because his apartment flooded, but that didn’t seem to bother him,’ Jankowski said. A former wrestling teammate also described Erickson as a ‘pretty nice guy’ who was ‘quiet.’ ‘He becomes really outgoing when you get to know him, but he’s pretty quiet when you don’t.’ As the investigation into the deadly rampage now continues, federal authorities were seen raiding the home in Cedarsburg, Wisconsin where Erikson grew up.

The Cedarburg Police Department then shared on Facebook that it was ‘made aware by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of their presence in our city to conduct interviews’ related to the shooting at Brown. ‘Cedarburg Police Department offers its condolences and thoughts to those killed, injured or otherwise impacted in the Brown University shooting incident,’ the department noted. Still, the Providence Police Department said Sunday night that efforts to charge a suspect are ‘active and ongoing.’ ‘The Providence Police Department continues to work closely with the Rhode Island State Police, the FBI, local law enforcement partners, and federal, state, and local officials to review evidence and gather all relevant facts,’ said Kristy dosReis, spokesperson for the Providence Police Department. ‘Additional information will be released as it becomes available and once we have a clearer and more complete picture of the circumstances involved,’ she said. The shooting left two students killed and nine people injured.

The first 911 call reported shots fired at Brown’s engineering building at 4.05pm while students studied for an end of semester exam. By the time officers swept the scene, the suspect had fled through an exit, officials said. The shooter, who was armed with a handgun, fired more than 40 9mm rounds, law enforcement officials said. Two firearms, a small Glock handgun and a revolver, were found in the hotel room the man was staying in. One of the guns had a unique characteristic on it and the other had was a laser-equipped gun, police said. Two loaded 30-round magazines were also found, an official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press. A heavy law enforcement response descended on the campus, and the Trump administration said FBI and ATF agents were on the scene.

Terrified students at the Ivy League school were forced to shelter in place for hours overnight. That was lifted at 7am Sunday morning. Mayor Smiley confirmed at a press conference at 7am on Sunday that there will be an enhanced police presence in Providence today for the ‘comfort and reassurance of our community’ as the investigation continues. He confirmed two lives were lost and nine people were injured. Smiley also said that tips from the local community were crucial in making the arrest Sunday morning. Smiley gave an update on the injured – confirming that seven are in stable condition, one is in critical but stable condition, and one has been discharged from hospital. ‘The people of Providence should breathe a little easier this morning,’ the mayor said, adding that he is confident to lift the shelter in place this morning. The Mayor seemed to become emotional as he spoke on Sunday: ‘This is an incredibly upsetting and emotional time, for Providence, for Brown, for all of us. ‘This is not something we should have to train for.’