The search for a Brown University shooting suspect continues after authorities released a person of interest, forcing investigators to reevaluate their findings and review all available evidence.
CNN law enforcement analyst and former FBI special agent Steve Moore said such setbacks are not unusual in complex cases.
“No investigation is perfect and you are going to go through ups and downs,” Moore told Rosemary Church.
According to Moore, investigators now need to reset their focus after realizing that the information that led them to the individual was flawed.
“So you practically have to discard, not the evidence, but the conclusions of the evidence,” he said. “And you start out, basically, like you’re seeing the evidence for the first time and you say, ‘Where should this lead us?’”
Moore added that the lack of another attack since the incident may be reassuring to the community.
“It would indicate to me that they had no further plans for violence. So, to me, that mitigates against people having a reason to feel safer,” she said.
In a statement issued Sunday night, Brown University said there is “no basis” to consider the released Wisconsin man a person of interest, adding that law enforcement agencies are continuing their investigation.
“Local police have reported that they do not believe there is any immediate threat to Brown or the local community,” the statement read, while noting that there continues to be an “increased amount” of local, state and federal police activity in the area.
University officials acknowledged concerns raised by the development of the case.
“We know this update may raise numerous questions,” officials said, emphasizing that the investigation is ongoing and that the university is referring to the Providence Police Department for further updates.
“We continue to do everything we can to ensure campus safety. We also advise all members of the Brown community to be vigilant about their own activities on campus,” the statement read.
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