Unlocked doors during exams allowed access to Brown University building at time of shooting: Mayor

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND: The deadly shooting at Brown University has left the country shaken. The attack that took place on Saturday, December 13, claimed two lives and left nine others injured.

Questions continue to surround how the male suspect, who is still at large, was able to enter the classroom and open fire.

Speaking to CNN, Mayor Brett Smiley said the exterior doors of Brown University’s Barus and Holley building were unlocked at the time because final exams were underway.

As per the mayor, “Anybody could have accessed the building at that time.” The heinous shooting took place while final exams were happening across the building. 

Mayor says unlocked doors allowed public access

During the latest press conference on the Brown University shooting, officials revealed that the building was open at the time because final exams were underway.

The mayor said that “anybody could have accessed the building at that time” since the outer doors were unlocked to manage exam-related movement.

While the exterior entrances remained open, access to certain classrooms inside the building was restricted and required key-card entry. Authorities also confirmed that the University’s Barus and Holley Engineering Building was unlocked during the incident due to ongoing final examinations.

Witnesses describe chaos inside packed classroom

The shooting at Brown University happened inside a classroom where students were attending a review session for a Principles of Economics final exam. The class professor, Rachel Friedberg, told The New York Times that the session was going on when the incident began.

A student from the class said she was leaving the review session, which ran from 2 pm to 4 pm, when she heard loud bangs and saw students running out of the room. She said some students were still inside the classroom and hid behind the teacher’s desk to stay safe.

Governor says campus safety will be reviewed 

Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee said authorities will review campus safety measures at Brown University at a later stage, following confirmation that the exterior doors of the building where the shooting occurred were unlocked at the time.

“Everything needs to be looked at on a daily basis and we do that, and we prepare for emergencies,” McKee said. “This is no exception... Until we actually know more, it’s difficult to make comment in terms of whether the situation was as safe as it should be, but we’ll follow up.”

As of now, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also assisting local law enforcement.