Law enforcement expert warns early details ‘often change’ as Brown manhunt continues

As police continue to search for a suspect accused of opening fire at Brown University, killing at least two people and wounding nine others, a law enforcement expert emphasizes that initial information is often incomplete or contradictory and that officers must verify information before taking action.

“In cases like this, the facts change often, sometimes quickly,” said Jason Pack, a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent with 21 years of service. “Early information comes from multiple sources, often under stress, and law enforcement must verify each piece before taking action or releasing it publicly.

“At the same time, officers are doing some of the toughest work in policing right now, which is clearing buildings that are on lockdown.”

He added that law enforcement efforts were “slow, deliberate and dangerous work.”

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“Every hallway, every stairwell, every classroom and office should be treated as a potential threat until it is cleaned,” he said.

An unidentified armed male was last seen leaving the Barus & Holley engineering building at the prestigious University of Rhode Island around 4 p.m.

The FBI and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with several local law enforcement agencies, are investigating. Authorities said the attacker was dressed in black.

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A law enforcement official walks past clothing items on the sidewalk near the entrance of Brown University in Providence, RI, Saturday during a shooting investigation. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Officers “often operate in an orderly fashion in low light, with limited information and knowing that someone inside these buildings may be scared, hiding or unable to communicate clearly,” Pack said.

“This requires discipline and restraint, not speed,” he said, adding that the search could extend into Sunday. “That’s why timelines are stretching and updates are evolving overnight. Law enforcement is balancing two responsibilities at once—fast enough to protect lives, but slow enough to ensure nothing is missed.”

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Law enforcement officers near an armored state police vehicle at Brown University following a shooting on campus Saturday. (Andrea Margolis/Fox News Digital)

Pack said law enforcement’s goal is “simple but not easy.”

“Before restrictions are lifted, make sure every area is safe, everyone is accounted for, and the threat is fully resolved,” he said.