The investigation into the deadly shooting at Brown University is still unfolding, with authorities urging patience and caution as they work through a complex case. The incident took place on Saturday, December 13, in Providence, Rhode Island, leaving two Brown University students dead and nine others injured. Four days on, no suspect has been publicly identified, deepening anxiety across the campus and beyond.
Police and the FBI have confirmed that the probe remains active. Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez has acknowledged the difficulty of the investigation and has repeatedly appealed to the public for any credible information. However, the limited official updates have created a vacuum, one that has increasingly been filled by speculation online.
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Who is Mustapha Kharbouch?
In recent days, the name Mustapha Kharbouch has surfaced widely on social media. It is important to note that law enforcement agencies have not named Kharbouch as a suspect or person of interest. No official statement has linked him to the shooting in any capacity.
The speculation appears to have begun after Kharbouch’s student profile disappeared from Brown University’s online directory. The page had previously described him as a first-year student studying International Affairs and Anthropology, with an academic focus on the Middle East. The profile now returns a “Page Not Found” message, which led many online users to draw their own conclusions without evidence.
Brown University addressed concerns about profile removals during a press briefing on Tuesday.
As per reports, University President Christina Paxson said the institution is fully cooperating with law enforcement and sharing all required internal information. She added that she was not aware of any student pages being taken down in relation to the shooting. The university has not provided a reason for the removal of Kharbouch’s profile, and there is no confirmed link between that action and the investigation.
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Meanwhile, the FBI has released new surveillance images and video footage of a possible person of interest and announced a reward of USD 50,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. A 24-year-old individual who was earlier questioned has since been released without charges.
Authorities continue to stress that spreading unverified claims can interfere with the investigation, urging the public to rely only on confirmed information as the search for answers continues.
