Benjamin Erickson: Brown University suspect's ‘extensive mental health history’ being probed; details
Posted on: Dec 15, 2025 03:30 IST | Posted by: Hindustantimes
Benjamin Erickson, the 24-year-old former US ground forces functionary identified as the surmise in the shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island on Saturday, has had a history of mental health issues that is now being investigated.
Erickson, who is allegedly a former US Army cyber official, was identified as the suspect by Washington Post and NBC News on Sunday citing law enforcement sources. The source speaking to NBC News said that the suspect has had an “extensive history of mental illness” which is now being investigated.
However, the exact details of what the 24-year-old suffered from were not revealed in the report by NBC News. The motive behind the shooting has not been revealed by FBI and the Providence Police Department.
Erickson, a former University of Wisconsin, Madison graduate, was reportedly from Wisconsin and lived briefly in the Washington, DC, area, the Washington Post reported.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced in an X post earlier on Sunday that Benjamin Erickson was taken into custody from Hampton Inn hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, at around 3:45 a.m. On Sunday morning. At the time of the arrest, the police found two handguns and two loaded 30-round magazines in his possession, the Associated Press reported.
As of now, the investigators have not confirmed any links between Erickson and Brown University.
Two people were killed, and nine were injured in the shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, on Saturday afternoon. Of the nine injured, seven are in critical condition, but stable, Providence Police said on Sunday.
Also read: Benjamin Erickson: Brown University shooting suspect's military history surfaces; ‘drove 17 hours’
Erickson traveled all the way from Wisconsin to Rhode Island - a 1,125 miles distance to carry out the attack, CNN reported citing authorities. Meanwhile, Brown University President, Christina Paxton confirmed that all the victims were from Brown University.
This story is being updated.
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