Providence police are facing mounting criticism over their handling of the December 13, 2025, mass shooting at Brown University, as officials acknowledge they still lack basic information about the incident days after it occurred.

The shooting, which took place during a study session inside a university auditorium, left two students dead and nine others injured. However, as of this week, Providence Police Department officials have confirmed they do not yet know how many students were inside the room at the time of the attack and have not finalized a comprehensive victim or witness list.

Authorities have also said they remain uncertain about how long the suspect was inside the auditorium and how long the weapon was actively used. These admissions have intensified public scrutiny and fueled accusations of investigative failures.

Criticism escalated after police leadership acknowledged that dashboard camera footage from responding patrol vehicles had not initially been reviewed. That revelation, highlighted in a Fox News segment amplified by commentator Jesse Watters, prompted renewed questions about evidence handling and situational awareness during the early stages of the investigation.

Additional confusion has arisen over the type of weapon used. Some eyewitnesses described what appeared to be a “long gun,” while official police statements have identified the weapon as a 9mm handgun. Investigators have not yet publicly reconciled those discrepancies.

Local residents and students have accused Brown University administrators of withholding information, alleging a potential cover-up. Protesters and community members are demanding the release of all available campus surveillance footage, noting that Brown operates more than 1,200 cameras across campus, yet no clear public images of the shooter have been released.

University officials have stated that the building where the shooting occurred lacked internal surveillance due to its age, a claim that has further fueled skepticism among critics.

Providence police say the investigation remains active and involves state and federal partners. Officials maintain that information is being released carefully to avoid compromising the case, but public frustration continues to grow as unanswered questions persist nearly a week after the attack.