Authorities on Sunday identified Benjamin Erickson, a 24-year-old resident of Wisconsin, as the suspect accused in the deadly Brown University shooting in Providence, Rhode Island.
The shooting occurred on Saturday and resulted in two people being killed and nine others injured. Law enforcement officials confirmed that Erickson is now in custody after being detained at a hotel in Rhode Island early Sunday.
Arrest Made at Rhode Island Hotel
Multiple federal law enforcement sources said Erickson was detained at a hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, located approximately 16–17 miles southwest of the Brown University campus.
According to investigators, officers traced the person of interest to the hotel after receiving a tip. Law enforcement knocked on the hotel room door and ordered the occupant to open it. Once inside, officers questioned him about his movements earlier that day and evening.
Authorities said Erickson told officers that he had been at the hotel the entire time.
🚨 BREAKING: The Brown University “person of interest” who has been detained by law enforcement has been identified as 24 year old Benjamin Erickson, per NBC
Erickson, born in 2001, has a potentially extensive mental health history, and may have a connection to Brown, per WaPo… pic.twitter.com/0NoIrY2F1j
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) December 14, 2025
Weapons Recovered During Detention
Officials confirmed that a revolver and a small Glock handgun fitted with a laser sight were recovered from the hotel room where Erickson was detained. The weapons were discovered during the detention connected to the Brown University shooting.
The recovery of the firearms is now a key part of the ongoing investigation.
FBI Details How Suspect Was Located
FBI Director Kash Patel said federal agents relied on advanced technology to locate the suspect.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency used “geolocation capabilities” to help locate and detain the person of interest following the attack at the Ivy League university.
In a post on X, Patel said the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team provided critical assistance that enabled FBI Boston’s Safe Streets Task Force, the US Marshals, and the Coventry Police Department to detain the suspect early Sunday morning. He added that the detention followed a tip received by Providence police, without sharing further details.
Conflicting Reports on Arrest Timeline
Washington Post and NBC News identified Erickson as the suspect in the shooting. Police had earlier described the suspect as a male “in his 30s wearing black clothes.”
NBC News reported that Erickson was taken into custody early Sunday at a Rhode Island hotel. Authorities have not yet released additional details regarding the exact timing of the arrest.
The Providence Police Department has not formally confirmed Erickson’s identity, stating that the investigation is still ongoing.
What We Know About Benjamin Erickson
According to NBC News, sources told the outlet that authorities are investigating whether Benjamin Erickson has a history of mental illness.
“Authorities are looking into what might be an extensive mental health history for Erickson, the sources said,” NBC News reported.
The Washington Post reported that Erickson is a resident of Wisconsin. However, public records cited by the outlet suggest he may have recently lived in an apartment on the Southwest Waterfront in Washington, D.C.
Investigation Ongoing
Authorities said they are continuing to investigate any possible connection between Benjamin Erickson and Brown University. Both the Providence Police Department and the FBI are working to establish motive, background, and whether there were warning signs prior to the attack.
More information is expected to be released as the investigation into the Brown University shooting continues.
