Rhode Island Sen Jack Reed said deadly Brown University shooting 'shook the entire state'

Jack Reed commended the swift police and FBI response after the campus shooting, noting that a person of interest was detained within hours
UPDATED DEC 14, 2025
Senator Jack Reed told ‘Fox News Sunday’ that the horrific Brown University shooting left Rhode Island in shock, but praised the community’s resilience in aiding victims (FoxNewsSunday/X)
Senator Jack Reed told ‘Fox News Sunday’ that the horrific Brown University shooting left Rhode Island in shock, but praised the community’s resilience in aiding victims (FoxNewsSunday/X)


PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND: Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed appeared on 'Fox News Sunday' on Sunday, December 14, and during his conversation with Jacqui Heinrich, he discussed the Brown University mass shooting that took place on Saturday.

He said that it “shook the entire state.”

Brown University student Jaden Anselmo sends a text message to his mother as live shooting unfolded on campus. Two confirmed dead, eight injured, and the suspect is still at large (@Rep. Nancy Mace/X)
Brown University student Jaden Anselmo sent a text message to his mother as live shooting unfolded on campus (@Rep Nancy Mace/X)

Jack Reed praises community unity after shooting

During his conversation with Jacqui Heinrich on 'Fox News Sunday', Jack Reed condemned the “horrific attack” on Brown University, stating that it shook the entire state. He added that Rhode Island was a “tight-knit community” that came together quickly to help.

Reed praised how quickly the police and fire departments, along with the FBI, acted and said that their cooperation was “superb.”  He added that within 12 hours, they had a suspect in custody who was being held in Providence.

“It still doesn’t diminish the real horror and the pain that this caused in this state,” he added.

Senator Jack Reed at the Federal Hill House Swiss Street Food Pantry (senjackreed_ri/Instagram)
Senator Jack Reed at the Federal Hill House Swiss Street Food Pantry (senjackreed_ri/Instagram)

Speaking to CNN on ‘State of the Union’, he again said that the state was in shock over the “horrific incident.” 

He further praised the federal corporation for the matter and said that there would be a press conference about the same, during which the FBI would provide more details.

He addressed the strict gun laws in Rhode Island and said that, despite the laws, there needs to be a strict eye on the implementation of the same. Jack Reed told Dana Bash that one of the first questions that should be asked is how the gunmen acquire the weapons. 



“I think we have to check very closely how he obtained the weapon,” he added.

The senator added that officials found more weapons 20 miles away from the university and said that if they were illegal, they needed to investigate and discover where the “hole in the process” was. 

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 24: Protestors shout as they march down Sixth Avenue during the March For Our L
Protestors shout as they march down Sixth Avenue during the 'March For Our Lives', March 24, 2018 in New York City (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Jack Reed calls for better background checks 

Jack Reed added that the presence of guns was one of the reasons for mass shootings. Bash asked whether the process could be improved and Reed said that they could improve the way background checks were conducted when someone was purchasing a gun.

“Sometimes, they’re cautionary at best; records aren’t maintained,” he added.

The senator further stated that background checks needed to be tougher since it was easier to obtain a firearm in America.

“And not be satisfied until these occurrences are something of the past,” he said. 

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