New Body-Worn Camera Video Shows Police Response to Brown University Shooting

Footage reveals officers' actions during deadly incident on campus

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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New body-worn camera video from one of the Providence police officers who responded to the deadly shooting at Brown University on December 13 has been released to the public. The video shows the perspective of Lt. Patrick Potter, a 21-year veteran of the force, as he and other officers arrived at the scene and encountered multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds.

Why it matters

The release of the body-cam footage provides a firsthand look at how police responded to the active shooter situation on Brown's campus, which left several people dead. The video offers important insights into the officers' actions and decision-making during the high-stakes incident.

The details

The body-cam video shows Lt. Potter and other officers reaching room 166, where they found several victims on the ground with gunshot wounds. "That was when we put out that this was an active shooter situation," Potter said. Though an experienced officer, Potter admitted he had never responded to an incident of this scale before. Mayor Brett Smiley and Police Chief Hugh O'Hara have both viewed the footage, warning that it is graphic and that the city is carefully reviewing public records requests to determine what should be released publicly.

  • On December 13, a shooting occurred at Brown University.
  • On January 7, Lt. Patrick Potter gave an interview about the police response.
  • On February 9, the body-worn camera footage was released to the public.

The players

Lt. Patrick Potter

A 21-year veteran of the Providence Police Department who responded to the shooting at Brown University.

Mayor Brett Smiley

The mayor of Providence, who has viewed the body-cam footage and warned that it is graphic.

Police Chief Hugh O'Hara

The Providence police chief, who has also viewed the footage and commended the officers' actions, saying "they saved lives that day."

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What they’re saying

“We've handled critical incidents before, but nothing of this scale.”

— Lt. Patrick Potter, Providence Police Officer (WPRI)

“There's a lot of sensitive information, some graphic video. I hope the community can understand this — I speak for myself here — I'm very worried about retraumatizing students, faculty, [and] community members when it does nothing to advance, or otherwise answer people's questions to understand what might have happened.”

— Mayor Brett Smiley (WPRI)

“They should be proud of what they did.”

— Police Chief Hugh O'Hara (WPRI)

What’s next

Police have also released audio from dispatch calls and police reports from the day of the shooting, which WPRI is reviewing.

The takeaway

The release of the body-cam footage provides a firsthand account of how police responded to the active shooter situation at Brown University, offering important insights into the officers' actions and decision-making during the high-stakes incident. The video has been described as graphic, and officials are carefully considering how to make it publicly available while avoiding further trauma to the campus community.