Brown University places its police chief on leave after mass shooting attack

December 23, 2025

Brown University's police chief, Rodney Chatman, has been placed on immediate administrative leave as part of a comprehensive safety review following a campus mass shooting on December 13 that left two students dead and nine wounded. University President Christina Paxson announced the decision amid mounting criticism of law enforcement's delayed response and the six-day gap before authorities identified the gunman as Claudio Neves Valente, a former Brown student who was later found dead in New Hampshire. The suspect is also believed to have killed an MIT professor two days after the Brown attack, though no motive has been disclosed.

Who is affected

Rodney Chatman (Brown University police chief placed on leave)
Christina Paxson (Brown University president)
Ella Cook, 19 (deceased student from Alabama)
Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18 (deceased Uzbek-American student)
Nine injured individuals
Claudio Neves Valente, 48 (deceased suspect and former Brown student)
An unnamed MIT professor (also killed)
Brown University campus community experiencing anxiety, fear, and stress
Campus police officers who responded to the attack

What action is being taken

Rodney Chatman is being placed on administrative leave
The university is conducting a review of the shooting response
The university is reviewing current safety policies through its highest governing body
The U.S. Department of Education is reviewing Brown's response to the shooting
The university is taking immediate steps to address anxiety, fear, and stress on campus

Why it matters

This incident highlights critical concerns about campus safety preparedness at a prestigious Ivy League institution, particularly given the substantial delay in identifying the suspect and the criticism of the police response. The shooting resulted in two student deaths and nine injuries, with the suspect also linked to another faculty murder at MIT, raising broader questions about security protocols at elite universities. The involvement of federal education authorities and the administrative actions taken signal the serious deficiencies identified in the emergency response, which has significant implications for student safety and institutional accountability at colleges nationwide.

What's next

Brown University's highest governing body will conduct a review of the response to the shooting
Brown University's highest governing body will conduct a review of current safety policies
The U.S. Department of Education will complete its review of Brown's response to the shooting

Read full article from source: BBC