As the investigation into the mass shooting at Brown University continues, frustration has grown on social media over the lack of clarity from law enforcement regarding a suspect.
The shooting, which occurred on Saturday, December 13, in Providence, Rhode Island, left two Brown University students dead and nine others injured.
Now entering its fourth day, investigators from the Providence Police Department and the FBI have yet to publicly identify a suspect as the manhunt remains ongoing.
What Authorities Have Confirmed So Far
Law enforcement officials have confirmed that the investigation remains active and ongoing. No suspect or person of interest has been publicly named, and authorities continue to urge anyone with information to come forward.
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez acknowledged the challenges investigators face and said multiple leads are still being evaluated.
Why Mustapha Kharbouch’s Name Is Circulating Online
As the search continues, online discussion—particularly on X (formerly Twitter)—has focused on the name Mustapha Kharbouch. Authorities, however, have not identified Kharbouch as a suspect or person of interest.
❗️🇵🇸⚔️🇺🇸 – There is growing suspicion that Mustapha Kharbouch, a third-generation Palestinian refugee and student studying international relations at Brown University, was responsible for the mass shooting on campus on December 13, 2025.
A gait analysis comparing video of… pic.twitter.com/91d2p2g2DS
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) December 16, 2025
At this stage, his name has surfaced only through online speculation, not through any official law enforcement announcement.
Student Profile Removal Raises Questions
Speculation intensified after social media users noticed that Brown University removed an online student profile linked to Mustapha Kharbouch. The profile, which previously listed him as a first-year student studying International Affairs and Anthropology, now displays a “Page Not Found” message.
Brown University has not commented on the reason for the removal, and officials have provided no confirmation linking the action to the shooting.
FBI Update and Reward Announcement
On Monday, the FBI released new surveillance videos and photographs of a possible person of interest and announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s capture and conviction.
The update followed the detention of a 24-year-old individual on Sunday, who was later released without charges.
