Reporters grill Brown University President Christina Paxson over campus camera coverage

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND: After authorities found the Brown University shooting suspect Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, 48, dead in New Hampshire, reporters are grilling the university’s president Christian Paxson, for downplaying the campus’s camera coverage.

Investigators previously revealed that a key security camera was missing at the Barus and Holley building, where the December 13 mass shooting killed two students and injured nine. Despite Brown’s more than 1,200 campus cameras, the university confirmed limited surveillance in the historic building, with law enforcement relying on neighborhood footage to track leads on the suspect.

Reporters press Christina Paxson over lack of cameras in the Barus and Holley building

An NBC 10 reporter pressed Paxson about the lack of security cameras inside the Barus and Holley building. The reporter said, "And law enforcement, some that are standing up behind you, have said if Brown had cameras in that part of the building, we would have gotten this guy. And it may have stopped the swirling action. Can you answer that question for me?”

Paxson responded by saying, "Well, I, I don't think we have said the locations of cameras at, at Brown. We have cameras, we, we have, because…."

The reporter interrupted and asked, “Why would they take it from a rental car agency?”

Paxson said, "We have 1200 cameras at Brown, but not in that building. We have some in that building. It's a large complex. And I think what you would see is the video evidence in this case from my perspective, I'm not a law enforcement agent, has been incredibly helpful.”

Christina Paxson doesn't think a lack of cameras in building had anything to do with attack

Paxson explained that surveillance footage from surrounding neighborhoods helped investigators track the suspect’s movements and ultimately solve the case. 

She added, "And as the Attorney general explained at a recent press conference, this individual was not spending his time on the Brown campus. He came into a building on the edge of the campus. He left. He was in the neighborhoods. The investigation focused on the neighborhoods. The video was there, and that was really, really instrumental in cracking the case.”

Another reporter followed up, pointing out that investigators relied on a "neighbor's video. The rental car video, but not the video from the building that he walked in freely both before when he got in a confrontation and when he came back in, decided to kill people. You didn't have cameras in that building. Just say it so we can get this over. And my, my next question is, will you bring cameras up? Will you put the cameras in the building? There will be more cameras in that building?"

Paxson said, "Yeah, you know, I think we need to look back. We'll look at everything that is done, but I do not think a lack of cameras in that building has anything to do with what happened there, and we will go forward."

Megyn Kelly raises concerns about student safety under Christina Paxson

Megyn Kelly weighed in on the situation by sharing video of Paxson’s press conference.

Reacting to the footage, Kelly said she was stunned, saying, “My God, this woman has got to go.” She also challenged Brown University parents, asking, “How can you possibly allow this person to remain in charge of your children’s safety?”