MILES PARKS, HOST:
And 10,000 miles away from that horrific shooting in Australia, families in Rhode Island are also in mourning after a shooting on Saturday on the Brown University campus that left two people dead. Nine other people also suffered injuries. Earlier today, Mayor Brett Smiley of Providence, Rhode Island, said a person of interest is under arrest and that the investigation is ongoing, although there are many outstanding questions. Reporter Paul C. Kelly Campos of Ocean State Media has been covering this story, and he joins us now from Providence. Hi, Paul.
PAUL C KELLY CAMPOS, BYLINE: Hey there. Thanks for having me.
PARKS: Yeah. Thanks for being here. So can you give us the latest on this investigation? What are police and the authorities saying?
CAMPOS: So Providence police Chief Oscar L. Perez said the investigation is progressing extremely fast but didn't offer more on the identity of the person who was detained Sunday morning at a hotel in the semirural town called Coventry, Rhode Island. He was guarded on how exactly his department was tipped off that that person of interest was there. The person of interest was also described as a man in his 20s but no additional information was given. FBI Director Kash Patel said the FBI's Cellular Analysis Survey Team helped locate the suspect, as well. Chief Perez stated many times throughout Sunday's press conference that his department did not want to share details until they were 100% certain about them before formally charging this individual with anything. As he says, the investigation is still progressing.
PARKS: Can you tell us any more - have we learned anything more about the victims of the shooting?
CAMPOS: Mayor Smiley didn't share the names of the victims at the conference, as he said that some of the families or relations of the victims have not yet been notified or been made aware of the situation because of holiday travel. Smiley said that he spoke with some of the wounded earlier this morning and that, as of now, one has been discharged from the hospital.
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BRETT SMILEY: The conditions have not changed, as far as I understand. And so as was said earlier this morning, one individual has been discharged. One individual remains in critical but stable condition, and the other seven are in stable condition.
CAMPOS: The mayor said as well this tragedy has shaken the city and the state of Rhode Island to its core.
PARKS: Yeah. What is the scene like at the university, at Brown? Any idea what the atmosphere is there today?
CAMPOS: The atmosphere there today was quiet and somber during this snowy day. Students I spoke with there were visibly distraught and shaken. A Brown University med student, Anh Nguyen, said he was in the middle of exams when the lockdown order came in.
ANH NGUYEN: Unfortunately, this is, like, a second school shooting that I've been to. My last one was at my undergrad. And I feel like something this unimaginable is happening way too often. But, you know, praying for everyone out there, and then hopefully there will be action in the future.
PARKS: What is the future here for Providence and for Brown? Where does this go from here, Paul?
CAMPOS: Mayor Smiley said today that the investigation is entering another chapter of sorts. Things are wrapping up at the crime scene on campus. And in the meantime, Brown has also canceled all final exams for the time being. The community is still reeling from yesterday's events, so a Christmas tree and menorah lighting ceremony that had already been scheduled at a nearby park in Providence at 5 p.m. has shifted to being a memorial for the shooting victims.
PARKS: Reporter Paul C. Kelly Campos of our member station Ocean State Media in Providence, Rhode Island. Paul, thank you so much.
CAMPOS: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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