Video recorded from inside one of Brown University’s buildings shows a scene that has unfortunately become common in the United States. Several armed officers roam the halls of the campus after the filming this Saturday and they locate a group of refugee students in a classroom. After shouting “Hands up“, the young people obey orders while the police secure the scene in search of the attacker.
The officers identify themselves as police officers upon arrival, while asking all students to show their hands. “We’re here to help, but listen to what we have to say», declares one of the agents. “We’re going to get you out of here safe and sound.” “Is anyone hurt?” he asks, before escorting the students to the exit: “Quickly, follow us.”
The images correspond to a few minutes after the attack recorded Saturday afternoon, when an armed individual burst into a classroom during an exam revision session and opened fire, leaving at least two people dead and nine injured. The video reflects tension and fear of studentsfirst hiding on the ground before raising their hands and being evacuated from the building.
The recording, broadcast on social networks, sparked a wave of reactions. “It is a university in the United States. It’s not freedom” says the message that accompanies the images, alluding to the normalization of scenes of violence in educational spaces. “This wouldn’t happen if we banned weapons” or “these poor children have lived their entire lives under the threat of gun violence in schools” are some messages that can be read in the comments.
As the search continues, authorities have increased the police presence in Providence and on the university campus, although they have excluded from recommending to the population to remain confined in their homes. For its part, Brown University suspended scheduled exams for the remainder of the semester and asked its community to prioritize their safety and well-being.
Authorities acknowledge investigation is ongoing hampered by lack of security footage. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha admitted that the building where the attack took place had few cameras, making it difficult to reconstruct the attacker’s movements. Police are considering an individual who appears in a video released Saturday walking quickly and away from the scene as a person of interest.
As the search continues, authorities have increased the police presence in Providence and on the university campus, although they have excluded from recommending to the population to remain confined in their homes. For its part, Brown University suspended scheduled exams for the remainder of the semester and asked its community to prioritize their safety and well-being.
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