Authorities are examining the background of a man identified as a person of interest in the deadly shooting at Brown University that left two people dead and at least nine others injured.
According to a report by NBC News, citing law enforcement sources, the individual was identified as Benjamin Erickson, a 24-year-old from Wisconsin. The report said authorities are looking into whether Erickson has a history of mental health issues and are also investigating whether he had any connection to Brown University.
The US Army confirmed details of Erickson’s military service. In a statement, an army spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Ruth Castro, said: “Benjamin W Erickson was an Infantryman (11B) in the Regular Army from May 2021 to November 2024. He has no deployments and left the Army in the rank of specialist.”
Public records show Erickson is currently living in Washington DC, where he registered to vote in 2023 with a “statehood” party affiliation. Earlier records indicate he was registered to vote in Wisconsin in 2020, when his voter information listed his occupation as “military”.
Officials cited by CNN said investigators believe Erickson travelled from Wisconsin to Rhode Island — a journey of about 17 hours — and that the trip may have been made specifically to carry out the attack.
Law enforcement officers tracked the individual to a hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, where he was detained. Sources told CNN that police knocked on the hotel room door and ordered him to open it. Once inside, officers questioned him about his movements throughout the day and evening. He reportedly told them he had remained at the hotel the entire time.
During a search of the room, officers recovered two firearms. Multiple federal law enforcement sources said the weapons included a revolver and a compact Glock handgun fitted with a laser sight.
The FBI said it played a key role in locating the person of interest. FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team used cellphone location data to help identify and geolocate the individual before he was taken into custody.
The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing, and no charges have yet been announced.
