Campus Shooting Survivor Endures Second Attack at Brown University

A student who survived a deadly high school shooting years ago faced gunfire again this weekend. The shooting occurred at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Two people were killed and nine others were injured on Saturday. The violent incident has reignited conversations about gun violence on American campuses.

University officials confirmed the lockdown and ongoing investigation. According to the Associated Press, a junior named Mia Tretta was among the students sheltering in place. Tretta is a survivor of the 2019 Saugus High School shooting in California.

Survivor’s Advocacy Work Confronts Repeat Trauma

Mia Tretta was shot in the abdomen during the Saugus attack. She was just 15 years old at the time. Since then, she has become a prominent advocate for stricter gun laws.

She has met with White House officials to discuss gun control. Her advocacy focuses on regulating untraceable “ghost guns.” The weapon used in her high school was a ghost gun.

Tretta was working on a paper about shooting survivors when the alert came. She was studying in her dorm with a friend. The alerts quickly escalated from a general emergency to an active shooter situation.

She recognized the terrifyingly familiar language in the alerts. The experience brought back traumatic memories. “No one should ever have to go through one shooting, let alone two,” Tretta told the AP.

Broader Pattern of Violence Hits Close to Home

Tretta was not the only student with prior experience of gun violence. Another Brown student reflected on social media about being near the Parkland shooting. The mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, also confirmed his son, a Brown student, was safe.

Mayor Craig Greenberg noted his son used furniture to barricade his dorm room. Greenberg himself survived an assassination attempt in 2022. This highlights a disturbing pattern affecting multiple families.

The immediate impact is profound trauma for the entire campus community. The long-term effect erodes the fundamental sense of safety in educational spaces. For survivors like Tretta, the search for a “normal” college experience was shattered.

This latest campus shooting underscores a relentless national crisis. The event at Brown University shows no community is immune. It reinforces urgent calls for actionable solutions to prevent further tragedies.

Thought you’d like to know-

Q1: When did the Brown University shooting happen?

The shooting occurred on a Saturday at Brown University. The specific date was December 14, 2025. The campus was placed on immediate lockdown.

Q2: Who is Mia Tretta?

Mia Tretta is a Brown University junior. She is a survivor of the 2019 Saugus High School shooting. She has since become a vocal advocate for gun control reform.

Q3: What was the weapon used in the Saugus High School shooting?

The weapon used in the 2019 Saugus attack was a “ghost gun.” Ghost guns are privately assembled and difficult to trace. Tretta’s advocacy work focuses on regulating these firearms.

Q4: How did the university respond to the shooting?

Brown University issued emergency alerts urging a lockdown. Students were told to stay away from windows and shelter in place. The response followed standard active shooter protocols.

Q5: Why is this shooting significant?

It highlights the recurring trauma for survivors of prior gun violence. The event involved a student living through a second campus shooting. It stresses the widespread nature of the gun violence epidemic.