Month: December 2025

Authorities are continuing the manhunt for the gunman in the deadly shooting at Brown University, while investigators disclosed that a previously detained person of interest has been released and the case has shifted direction. Two students were killed and nine others wounded Saturday afternoon when gunfire erupted inside an engineering building during final exams.

On Monday afternoon, Providence Police shared new videos and photos on social media of a new person of interest in the shooting, which show a man dressed in black on Hope and Manning streets and on Benevolent Street. Police state that the images were captured about two hours before Saturday’s shooting: “we are requesting the public’s assistance in identifying a person of interest in Saturday’s incident at Brown University. Please share these images and direct all tips to 401-272-3121 or at the link HERE. “

Previously released surveillance video shows a suspect dressed in black calmly walking away from the scene. The individual’s face is not visible, and officials have not determined whether the suspect is affiliated with the university. Investigators are also still working to determine how the shooter accessed the first-floor classroom. While the building’s exterior doors were unlocked, rooms used for final exams required badge access.

Providence Police Chief, Col. Oscar L. Perez Jr., said at the news conference that “It’s all hands on deck,” adding that state police and federal agencies are also assisting in the search. Authorities asked people in Rhode Island and beyond to review the new videos and photos and to call police if they have any information.

The FBI announced that they were “offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the individual. Anyone with information please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or the Providence Police Department at 401-272-3121.”  The FBI also released a description of the suspect, saying the person is “approximately 5’8” with a stocky build.”

Meanwhile, the person of interest that had been taken into custody early Sunday was released later that night after investigators determined there was no legal basis to continue holding them. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said evidence that had initially drawn attention to the individual “now points in a different direction … So what that means is that this person of interest needs to be released.”

Brown University posted on X: “Providence police announced late on Sunday night that they have released the individual they had detained in connection with the investigation into the shooting on the Brown campus on Saturday, Dec. 14, which claimed the lives of two Brown students and injured nine others. The Rhode Island Attorney General stated definitively in a news media event hosted by the City of Providence that “there is no basis” to consider the released individual a person of interest. Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate, and local police have advised they do not believe there is any immediate threat to Brown or the local community. We continue to make every effort to ensure the safety and security of the campus. We are also advising every member of the Brown community to be vigilant in their own activities on campus”

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley shared that seven hospitalized victims remain in stable condition, one is in critical condition, and another with minor injuries has been released. He said he has spoken directly with several victims, and added that “this is an incredibly upsetting and emotional time for Providence and Brown — for all of us.”

Brown has canceled all remaining classes and exams for the semester, allowing students to leave campus if they choose. Support services remain available for those who stay, Provost Francis Doyle said: “At this time, it is essential that we focus our efforts on providing care and support to the members of our community as we grapple with the sorrow, fear and anxiety that is impacting all of us right now.”

The two students killed were identified as Muhammad Aziz Umurzakov of Uzbekistan and Ella Cook of Birmingham, Alabama. The Uzbekistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, “The loss of innocent lives as a result of this tragedy is a heavy loss for all of us.”  Cook was vice president of Brown’s chapter of College Republicans, with her church in Alabama describing her as an “incredible light.” Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said on X: “I am heartbroken to hear that Mountain Brook’s Ella Cook was among those killed over the weekend at Brown University. Our hearts and our prayers are with the Cook family and everyone impacted by this senseless killing.” In addition, Rep. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said on X: “There are no words that can ease the pain Ella’s family and friends are enduring right now. … Our hearts are breaking for the Cook family.”

Editorial credit: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com

Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell confirmed that Nick Reiner, the younger son of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, producer Michele Singer Reiner, is being held on suspicion of murder following their deaths.

Reiner, 32, was as booked at the LAPD jail and was originally being held on $4 million bail; however an update later in the day from the LAPD said he was being held without bail. At a press conference on Monday morning, LAPD Chief McDonnell confirmed that Nick Reiner had been “booked for murder.. a very, very tragic incident.”  Police arrested Nick Reiner on Sunday for the stabbing deaths of his parents, online records from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department indicated. The arrest came just hours after the Los Angeles Fire Department was called to the Reiner home around 3:30 p.m. PST Sunday after a family member discovered the couple, who were found dead from multiple stab wounds. Sources told ABC News that it was the Reiners’ daughter Romy who found her parents’ bodies on Sunday.

Nick Reiner, 32, has a long history with drug addiction, beginning his teens. In an interview with People in 2016, Nick shared that he spent weeks homeless and was in and out of rehab for addiction treatment that began when he was 15. Reiner’s struggles with addiction led him to co-write the 2016 film “Being Charlie,” directed by Rob Reiner and featuring actor Cary Elwes (who appeared in Reiner’s classic “The Princess Bride.”). The plot focuses on a young man struggling with addiction who has been in and out of rehab.

The Reiner family said in a statement after news broke of the couple’s death: “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”

Rob Reiner, the son of director/comedian Carl Reiner, was first know for his role as Michael “Meathead” Stivic, on the CBS sitcom ‘All in the Family,’ where he won Emmys as best supporting actor in a comedy in 1974 and 1978. Reiner went on to become an acclaimed director, with some of his most notable work including “This Is Spinal Tap,” “Stand By Me,” “The Princess Bride,” “A Few Good Men,” “Misery,” and “When Harry Met Sally…”.

Rob and Michele met when Rob directed When Harry Met Sally… , and the couple married in 1989. They are survived by two other children, son Jake Reiner and daughter Romy. Rob Reiner also adopted his daughter, Tracy Reiner, during his marriage to late actress/director Penny Marshall.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, 68, were found stabbed to death at their Los Angeles home on Sunday.

The couple’s family said in a statement via Variety: “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”

On Sunday, Dec. 14, at about 3:30 p.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) was called to a home to provide medical aid, the LAFD told PEOPLE. Upon arrival, they found a man, 78, and a woman, 68, dead. Sources confirm the victims were Rob and Michele. According to the LAPD, the deaths are being investigated as a homicide and as of press time no arrests have been announced yet.

At a press conference held by the LAPD on Sunday night (as reported on by Deadline), Deputy Chief Alan S. Hamilton stated that the LAPD “is currently conducting an ongoing homicide investigation into the two deaths at Rob Reiner’s Brentwood home.” Hamilton added that the LAPD “has not identified a suspect at this time” and is not pursuing any persons of interest. The press conference did, however, confirm that the couple were found dead “from apparent stab wounds.”

Reiner, the son of director/comedian Carl Reiner, was first know for his role as Michael “Meathead” Stivic, on the CBS sitcom ‘All in the Family,’ where he won Emmys as best supporting actor in a comedy in 1974 and 1978. Reiner went on to become an acclaimed director, with some of his most notable work including “This Is Spinal Tap,” “Stand By Me,” “The Princess Bride,” “A Few Good Men,” “Misery,” and “When Harry Met Sally…”.

Rob and Michele met when Rob directed When Harry Met Sally…  and the couple married in 1989; they share three children.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Officials said Sunday that authorities have detained a person of interest in connection with the fatal mass shooting at Brown University during final exam preparations, which left two students dead and wounded nine others.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said during a Sunday morning briefing “we have detained a person of interest,” later identified by NBC News as Benjamin Erickson, 24, of Wisconsin.  The suspect was taken into custody around 3:45 a.m. at a Hampton Inn in Coventry, Rhode Island, roughly 20 to 30 miles south of Providence, after police received a tip from a member of the public. Law enforcement sources said that Erickson was found with a revolver and a small Glock handgun in his room at a hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island.

Public records indicate that as of 2024, Erickson’s residence was an apartment in Washington, D.C., and that he previously lived in Wisconsin. Army spokesperson, Lt. Col. Ruth Castro, said in a statement that Erickson was an infantryman in the Army from May 2021 to November 2024 and initial public records searches do not indicate that he had a criminal record. “He has no deployments and left the Army in the rank of specialist,” Castro said.

Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar L. Perez Jr. said later Sunday that investigators are still gathering evidence and executing search warrants, declining to discuss a possible motive or the individual’s connection to the university. “We are working with what we have, and, obviously, we have somebody at the police station, that person of interest. And we’re going to continue to build that case in order to be able to charge that person,” Perez said.

The shooting occurred Saturday afternoon inside the Barus & Holley engineering building on Hope Street, where engineering and physics classes are held. University officials said gunfire broke out in a lecture hall during a final exam review session as students across the College Hill campus were preparing for exams ahead of winter break.

Investigators said surveillance footage released by police showed a figure dressed in dark clothing calmly walking away from the area after the shooting. The person’s face was not visible, and police have not confirmed whether the individual seen in the video is the same person now in custody. Prior to the detention, authorities circulated a brief video clip showing a person in dark clothing walking along Hope Street and then north on Waterman Street, with one hand appearing to be inside a jacket pocket.

Brown University President Christina H. Paxson called the incident a day of “devastating gun violence,” saying in a statement, “Our hearts go out to them. This is a day of tremendous sorrow. No parent or family member should ever have to endure a day like this.” All of the victims — those killed and those injured — were students, according to Paxson. As of Sunday morning, eight of the nine wounded students remained hospitalized. Officials said seven were in stable condition, while one was listed as critical but stable. One student with less serious injuries was later discharged.

FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau assisted local authorities by deploying its Cellular Analysis Survey Team to help locate the person of interest. Patel wrote in a post on X: “An update on the @FBI response at Brown University: @FBIBoston established a command post to intake, develop and analyze leads, and run them to ground. We activated the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team, to provide critical geolocation capabilities. As a result, early this morning, FBI Boston’s Safe Streets Task Force, with assistance from the @USMarshalsHQ & the @Coventry_RI_PD, detained a person of interest in a hotel room in Coventry, RI, based off a lead by the @ProvidenceRIPD. We have deployed local and national resources to process and reconstruct the shooting scene – providing HQ and Lab elements on scene. We set up a digital media intake portal to ingest images and video from the public related to this incident. nAnd the FBI’s victim specialists are fully integrating with our partners to provide resources to victims and survivors of this horrific violence. This FBI will continue an all out 24/7 campaign until justice is fully served. Thanks to the men and women of the FBI and our partners for their continued teamwork. Please continue praying for the victims and their families – as well as all those at Brown University.”

The shelter-in-place order for Brown’s College Hill campus and surrounding neighborhoods was lifted early Sunday, though police said some areas remain active crime scenes with limited access. The university has canceled all remaining classes, exams, and academic requirements for the Fall 2025 semester, allowing students to leave campus if they choose. Those who remain will have access to counseling and support services. Provost Francis J. Doyle III said in a statement that “At this time, it is essential that we focus our efforts on providing care and support to the members of our community as we grapple with the sorrow, fear and anxiety that is impacting all of us right now.”

President Trump also addressed the shooting from the White House on Sunday, offering condolences to the victims and their families. “To the nine injured, get well fast and to the families of those two that are no longer with us, I pay my deepest regards and respect from the United States of America,” he said.

Editorial credit: Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock.com

At least 15 people were killed and dozens more injured after two gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday evening, in what Australian authorities have labeled a targeted terrorist attack against the Jewish community.

Police in New South Wales said the shooting began around 6:45 p.m. local time as hundreds of people gathered for “Hanukkah by the Sea,” an event marking the first night of the Jewish holiday. Victims ranged in age from about 10 to 87, according to officials. At least 40 people were hospitalized, including several children and two police officers who were listed as critical but stable.

Authorities identified the attackers as a father and son, ages 50 and 24. Police said the older man was shot and killed by officers at the scene, while the younger suspect was taken to a hospital in serious condition. Investigators said six firearms were recovered and that two improvised explosive devices were also found nearby and safely removed by a bomb disposal unit. The father was licensed to own firearms, officials said, and investigators are determining whether the weapons used were legally registered.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said the violence was deliberate and ideologically motivated: “This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah.”  Prime Minister Anthony Albanese similarly described the shooting as an “act of evil antisemitism” and a terrorist incident. Albanese said at a news conference: “What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism on our shores in an iconic Australian location, Bondi Beach, that is associated with joy, associated with families gathering, associated with celebrations, and it is forever tarnished by what has occurred last evening … The scenes in Bondi are shocking and distressing. Police and emergency responders are on the ground working to save lives. My thoughts are with every person affected.”

Officials have not yet released a full list of victims, but among those killed was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi with Chabad of Bondi and a key organizer of the event, per the organization. New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park said the death toll rose overnight and confirmed that multiple children were among those wounded: “This is absolutely horrendous for the community broadly, but particularly the Jewish community. … What we saw last night was the worst of humanity, but at the same time, the very best of humanity.”

Video from the scene showed beachgoers fleeing as gunshots echoed across the waterfront. One widely shared clip appeared to show an unarmed civilian tackling and disarming one of the gunmen near Campbell Parade, a road running parallel to the beach. Premier Minns praised the man — later identified by relatives to Australian media as fruit shop owner Ahmed al Ahmed — calling him a “genuine hero.” Police confirmed the bystander was injured and hospitalized. Hundreds of officers and emergency responders flooded the scene, with images showing victims being taken away on stretchers.

Leaders around the world quickly condemned the attack, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio writing on X, “The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Australia targeting a Jewish celebration. Antisemitism has no place in this world. Our prayers are with the victims of this horrific attack, the Jewish community, and the people of Australia.”

A statement from the Great Britian’s Royal family read that King Charles and Queen Camilla were “appalled and saddened by the most dreadful antisemitic terrorist attack on Jewish people” attending the event, adding that Australia’s sense of unity would endure.

Israeli leaders also denounced the violence, with President Isaac Herzog calling it a “terrorist attack” and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres describing it as “a heinous deadly attack on Jewish families.”

Mass shootings are rare in Australia, where strict gun laws were enacted after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. However, officials and researchers have noted a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza, alongside increased hate incidents targeting Muslim communities. The Australian government appointed special envoys last year to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia, though attacks have continued.

Editorial credit: Stepan Skorobogadko / Shutterstock.com