Authorities have released the person of interest detained in connection with the fatal mass shooting near Brown University, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley announced during a Sunday night press conference. Smiley assured residents that “the status of safety in our community remains unchanged,” emphasizing that officials believe the public remains safe. The decision comes after investigators reassessed evidence linked to the case, which left two people dead and nine others injured.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha revealed that while early evidence appeared to implicate the detained individual, it has since “pointed in a different direction.” He confirmed that he discussed the evolving investigation with FBI Director Kash Patel on Sunday. The person of interest, described by law enforcement as a man in his mid-20s from Wisconsin, was initially detained around 3:45 a.m. at a hotel in Coventry, roughly 28 miles south of Providence, and was allegedly found in possession of two firearms at the time.

Investigators said a key break in the manhunt came from witness descriptions of a gun with a distinctive feature seen during the attack, leading police to recover a firearm matching that description along with another weapon during the detention. However, officials now say there is no certainty about the shooter’s current whereabouts or whether the suspect has left the state, as the search for the person responsible continues. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news details and follow us on all our social media platforms.