PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Journos News) – Newly released police recordings from the day of the Brown University shooting in December show the immediate response to a campus attack that left two students dead and nine others injured. Providence officials said Monday that portions of the footage were withheld or heavily redacted to protect victims and sensitive details.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley acknowledged the challenge of balancing public transparency with the potential harm that unedited material could cause. “This was a difficult process to maintain our commitment to transparency, respond to media requests, and respect the public’s right to know, while mitigating serious risks to victims,” Smiley said at a press briefing. The city said additional footage remains under review, with release decisions made in consultation with legal advisors.

Media outlets had sought body camera footage, audio clips, and other records since the shooting occurred in mid-December. Monday’s release includes roughly 20 minutes of body camera video and police radio audio from the initial response.

Police Response Captured in Redacted Footage

The audio records a campus police officer contacting city authorities at 4:07 p.m.: “This is Brown police. We have confirmed gunshots at 184 Hope Street. We do have a victim but we do not know where they are.” Minutes later, a follow-up call included a suspect description: “Wearing all black and a ski mask, unknown travel direction.”

The video shows officers navigating a tense, chaotic environment, moving students to safety, and searching for the shooter. Objects including backpacks and gloves are scattered across hallways as officers attempt to secure the building.

“Let’s get these rescues in, where are we staging rescue?” one officer says, later adding, “Shooter might still be in the building, so use caution, alright.” Large portions of the video are blacked out or obscured by the officer’s arms. Officials said the released video provides the most comprehensive view without exposing graphic content.

Mayor Smiley noted that additional footage would not clarify the shooter’s motives. “Why did this person do this? None of those videos are going to answer that question,” he said.

Confusion and Misidentification During the Response

Other recordings capture officers reporting a possible sighting of the shooter on the second floor of a nearby building and mistakenly detaining a maintenance worker. Within minutes, officers realized the error and resumed the search.

City officials said the records were withheld until after a memorial service on campus at the request of the victims’ families. Smiley described families as “remarkably strong and resilient” and expressed concern that premature release could impede their recovery.

Shooting Details

On December 13, gunman Claudio Neves Valente, 48, entered a study session in a Brown academic building, killing 19-year-old sophomore Ella Cook and 18-year-old freshman MukhammadAziz Umurzokov and wounding nine others. A police incident report released Monday described victims’ emotional reactions when shown photographs of the suspect.

Authorities have also linked Neves Valente to the fatal shooting of Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro at his Boston-area home. Neves Valente, who had attended school with Loureiro in Portugal during the 1990s, was found dead days later in a New Hampshire storage facility.

The U.S. Justice Department said Neves Valente had planned the attacks for years. Investigators recovered videos from a storage unit in which he confessed to the killings, though he provided no explanation for his actions.

Source: AP News – New video footage released from day of the fatal Brown University shooting

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Recent high-profile aviation incidents have left many passengers questioning the safety of air travel. A close call at Chicago Midway Airport between a Southwest aircraft and a private jet, along with other troubling events, have intensified concerns. But is flying still safe?

A Series of Alarming Incidents

In the past few months, North American skies have witnessed several troubling events, such as:

• A deadly midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
• A Medevac jet crash in Philadelphia
• A regional airline crash off the coast of Nome, Alaska, killing 10 people
• A Delta flight emergency landing in Atlanta with a haze-filled cabin
• Delta Flight 4819, which crash-landed and ended upside down at Toronto Pearson International Airport, miraculously without fatalities.

These incidents followed a deadly series of crashes in late 2024, including the Jeju Air and Azerbaijan Airlines crashes. In the past year, there was also a Boeing door panel blowout in the U.S. and a fiery runway collision in Japan.

After these close calls, anxiety around air travel has spiked. So, should passengers be worried?

The Experts’ Perspective

Anthony Brickhouse, an aviation safety expert, reassures passengers, stating, “I don’t know that passengers should be worried, but it’s important for the flying public to demand that the government and aviation entities do everything to make air travel as safe as possible.”

Statistically, flying is still the safest mode of transportation. Brickhouse emphasized that air travel remains safer than driving to the airport.

An Unsettling Trend in Aviation Safety

However, Brickhouse acknowledged a troubling trend. “If you keep having near-misses, eventually you’re going to have a midair collision,” he said. The past few years have seen repeated near-collisions, especially at U.S. airports.

These near-collisions led the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to form an independent safety review team in 2023. The team’s findings revealed critical issues like:

• Inconsistent funding for safety initiatives
• Outdated technology and understaffed air traffic control towers
• Lengthy training requirements for air traffic controllers

The FAA has already taken some action, particularly in recruiting and training new controllers. But a shortage of air traffic controllers continues to strain the U.S. airspace system.

How Safe Is Flying, Really?

Despite these challenges, aviation safety remains strong. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA)‘s 2024 safety report, there was only one fatal accident for every 880,000 flights in 2024. While the number of fatalities increased to 244 (from 72 in 2023), this figure is still incredibly low compared to historical data.

Between 2018 and 2022, the worldwide death risk for passengers was just one in 13.7 million boardings. To put that into perspective, you’re more likely to be struck by lightning, attacked by a shark, or even give birth to quadruplets than to die in a plane crash.

A System That Learns from Mistakes

Guy Gratton, an aviation professor and commercial pilot, noted that despite the occasional accident, aviation’s response to failures is what makes it so safe. After any crash or close call, safety measures are thoroughly analyzed and recommendations are immediately rolled out across the industry.

Gratton drew comparisons with road accidents, saying that the global aviation industry’s investigative process and response to incidents is far more robust than what we see in other transport sectors.

Addressing Safety Concerns in the U.S.

While aviation remains globally safe, U.S. aviation oversight faces challenges. Geoffrey Thomas, editor of aviation website 42,000 Feet, pointed out that insufficient funding for the FAA is a key factor behind recent incidents. “U.S. Congress has consistently starved the FAA of the resources it needs,” Thomas said. The lack of adequate funding has impacted the U.S. air traffic control system.

However, both experts stress that flying is still the safest mode of transportation. “There are over 100,000 commercial flights per day globally, and flying is incredibly safe,” said Thomas. Gratton echoed this sentiment: “All the processes that have been put in place over the years are still there to ensure maximum safety.”

Overcoming the Fear of Flying

For passengers struggling with anxiety about flying, known as aerophobia, it’s essential to recognize that fear of flying is treatable. More than 25 million Americans suffer from severe flight anxiety, which can interfere with daily life. However, experts say it’s important to confront this fear, not avoid it.

Dr. Gail Saltz, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry, advises against using alcohol or medication as coping mechanisms. Instead, she recommends exposure therapy—taking the flight despite the anxiety. Techniques like meditation, deep breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation can help calm nerves during the flight.

Some European airlines even offer fear of flying courses, such as the Flying with Confidence course run by British Airways, which includes sessions with pilots and cabin crew and a real flight to help passengers overcome their fear.

Conclusion

Despite recent incidents and ongoing challenges, flying remains statistically safer than ever before. Experts emphasize that aviation continues to improve safety year after year, and the systems in place to prevent accidents are among the best in the world.

If you’re still nervous about flying, you’re not alone—but rest assured, air travel is exceptionally safe. And with the proper strategies, you can overcome any fear or anxiety that might come with it.

Source

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At least two people were killed and six others injured after a 17-year-old opened fire during Halloween celebrations in downtown Orlando early Friday morning, according to local police.

Key Details

Around 1:07 a.m. EDT, Orlando police responded to gunfire near Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue. Minutes later, officers witnessed additional gunshots south of Washington Street on Orange Avenue, according to the Orlando Police Department.

The victims, aged between 19 and 39, included two fatalities and six injured individuals, all of whom were hospitalized in stable condition, Police Chief Eric Smith reported.

Police quickly arrested a 17-year-old suspect, who was previously detained last year in a grand theft case still under investigation. Authorities are now considering whether to charge the teen as an adult.

During the incident, nearly 100 officers were patrolling downtown Orlando due to anticipated Halloween crowds. The police department is now evaluating whether to increase patrols for the upcoming weekend.

Unknowns

The suspect’s motive remains unclear. According to police, the teen appeared deliberate in his actions, moving calmly past multiple officers as though unconcerned.

Background Context

Unlike previous years, Orlando did not implement additional safety measures for Halloween, such as police checkpoints and gun-sniffing dogs. Police Chief Smith noted that recent Florida legislation allows most individuals to carry concealed weapons without a permit, which limits certain preventive measures.

The U.S. has witnessed 439 mass shootings in 2024, with 24 classified as mass murders—incidents with four or more fatalities—according to the Gun Violence Archive. The most recent mass murder occurred in Fall City County, Washington, on October 21, when five people were killed.

Source

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