Earlier, we reported that the person-of-interest detained early Sunday morning in the Brown University shooting was identified as 24-year-old Benjamin Erickson.
Here’s an updated, confirmed photo of Erickson, who was ex-military:
The person of interest detained in the investigation into the Brown University deadly mass shooting is a former infantry soldier in the U.S. Army.
Benjamin Erickson's current social media shows he is interested in gender equity and support for refugees and migrants. He wrote… pic.twitter.com/DXSSAGLgdb
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) December 15, 2025
Allegedly, Erickson was found with guns at a hotel when he was taken into custody.
However, police just announced that they are releasing him.
Watch this:
Backup here if needed:
🚨 BREAKING: Providence Police are now RELEASING Brown University person of interest Benjamin Erickson from custody
What an absolute JOKE
They have ZERO CLUE who carried this out.
Absolutely embarrassing. pic.twitter.com/6zzA8yByaN
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) December 15, 2025
Apparently, they did not have enough evidence to convict Erikson.
The Rhode Island AG apologized for detaining Erickson and letting his name be leaked to the public:
BREAKING – The Rhode Island Attorney General is now apologizing for the false detention of Benjamin Erickson, stating it was “unfortunate” that his name was allowed to be leaked to the public.
It’s “unfortunate” any of these people have jobs. pic.twitter.com/tcLUVhdl80
— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) December 15, 2025
What a clown show.
Authorities now say that evidence is pointing in a “different direction.”
CNN reported:
Police are releasing the man that had been detained earlier today because evidence “now points in a different direction,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said.
There had been evidence pointing to this individual, Neronha said, but that evidence needed to be corroborated.
Over the last 24 hours, the attorney general said, the evidence is now leading them elsewhere.
Neronha added it was “unfortunate that this person’s name was leaked to the public” and “we will proceed very carefully.”…
Officials had evidence, but not enough to prosecute anybody, Police Chief Oscar L. Perez, Jr. said Sunday night.
ADVERTISEMENTA tip had come in, Perez said, and the FBI “followed through with it, and they ended up coming and locating this individual of interest.”
That evidence was examined, and ultimately the person was released, he said.
This is a huge change from what police were telling us earlier.
After they took in Erickson, they claimed to not be searching for any additional suspects.
NBC News has more:
Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee said officials contacted FBI Director Kash Patel ahead of tonight’s announcement.
Mayor Brett Smiley said, “The status of safety in our community remains unchanged, and we believe that you remain safe in our community.”
Police initially said they were confident the person of interest was the person who opened fire in a first-floor classroom at Brown’s Barus & Holley building yesterday before fleeing.
What the heck?
While the police were busy interrogating Erickson and convincing everyone they had the shooter, the real guy had more than a full day to put further distance away from himself and the crime.
BREAKING – Authorities have released Benjamin Warren Erickson from custody after determining he was not involved in the shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island, with the gunman still at large.
More than 24 hours later and they still don’t have a shooter. pic.twitter.com/iETMimMQ5P
— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) December 15, 2025
It doesn’t seem like police have any real leads on the actual shooter, at this time.
Bear in mind that they still haven’t released any video footage from the university’s surveillance cameras — despite Brown being one heavily-surveilled.
They likely just arrested him so it would appear they were making progress.
This is the most heavily-surveillanced campus in the country. And they have released practically NONE of the footage?
Something is off here, folks… pic.twitter.com/XQWbBpORI9
— The Conservative Alternative (@OldeWorldOrder) December 15, 2025
What a complete and utter disaster.
Everything about this is so fishy.
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