The Buffalo Bills were placed on lockdown at their team hotel in Providence, Rhode Island, due to a mass shooting incident at nearby Brown University on Saturday afternoon. The team is in town for a game against the New England Patriots scheduled for Sunday at Gillette Stadium, approximately 25 miles from Providence. All Bills players and staff are safe within the hotel.
The shooting occurred at Brown University's Barus and Holley engineering building, where a suspect opened fire, resulting in two fatalities and at least nine injuries. The suspect, described as a male in black clothing potentially wearing a dark camouflage mask and believed to be in his 30s, fled the scene and remains at large. Authorities issued a shelter-in-place alert for students and faculty amidst final exams. Law enforcement, including FBI and ATF agents, responded to the scene. Initial reports of a suspect in custody and a second shooting were later clarified as unfounded.
The Patriots organization released a statement expressing their condolences and gratitude to first responders, emphasizing solidarity with Brown University and the Rhode Island community. Investigators believe a handgun was used in the attack, and no weapons have been recovered yet.