Brown University Student Describes Fear and Chaos After Hearing Gunshots

A Brown University student described moments of fear and confusion after hearing what she later realized were gunshots on campus Saturday afternoon.
Sophia Holman said she was inside the university’s engineering building, looking for a place to study, when she first heard loud noises. At the beginning, she thought the sounds were coming from the school’s woodshop or that an experiment had gone wrong.
Her reaction changed when she saw another person running past her. Realizing something was wrong, Holman began running as well. She ran about one block east before calling the police.
According to Holman, campus police responded quickly to the incident. However, hours after the shooting, students were still being told to shelter in place while police searched for a suspect. She said the atmosphere on campus was tense, with many people feeling anxious and on edge.
Despite the fear and confusion, Holman said there was also a sense of trust. She expressed confidence in the police response and appreciation for the medical staff, saying they were doing everything possible to help those who were injured.


