Brown University Student Describes Hunkering Down During Campus Shooting

Campus Lockdown Experience

• 💡 A Brown University student, Robert James, recounts being in the Rockefeller Library basement when he received a notification about a shooter on campus.
• 🔒 He and approximately 10-15 other students barricaded themselves in a basement room, using tables and chairs to secure the entrance and windows.
• ⏳ They remained in the basement for about five hours before being escorted upstairs by authorities.

Alert and Initial Response

• 📱 The first alert came from a friend via text message, followed by an official email and text from the university.
• 🚨 Police sirens were audible around campus, but the student did not personally hear any gunshots, likely due to his location in the library, which was farther from the initial incident.

Campus Atmosphere and Student Situation

• 😟 While students in the library were shaken, the general atmosphere was one of waiting for further instructions.
• 🗺️ Students closer to the reported shooting locations, like Barrison Holly, experienced more fear.
• 🚌 Many students were being transported by buses to a recreational facility (OMAC) and then downtown.

Impact of Timing and Location

• 📚 The shooting occurred during finals week, a busy period with many students on campus studying in libraries.
• 🎯 The shooter reportedly entered Barrison Holly during an economics review session, a large class with potentially 300-500 students, indicating a strategic choice of location and time.

Communication and Current Status

• ❓ Students felt they were in limbo, relying on authorities for guidance and safety.
• ✅ The student felt authorities were doing a decent job within the building but was unaware of the situation outside.
• 🗣️ Police escorted students upstairs but had not conducted any interviews as of the report.
• 🚌 The student anticipated a potentially long evening before being transported to a different area for safety.