A person of interest who was detained in connection with a deadly shooting at Brown University in the US will be released shortly, local officials have said.

Providence Police Chief Col Oscar Perez stated that they do not have enough evidence to prosecute the detained individual. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha added that evidence now points in a different direction.

The investigation continues as authorities are looking for additional video evidence to help track down the suspect, according to the local mayor.

This incident resulted in two fatalities and nine injuries when a gunman opened fire at the Ivy League university on Saturday.

During a joint news conference on Sunday, Col Perez mentioned that investigators do not believe the person in custody matches the individual depicted in CCTV footage released just after the attack. The BBC has opted not to release the name of the individual who is set to be freed.

The released footage shows the suspect walking away from the scene dressed in all black.

Initially, the FBI reported that the individual of interest was taken into custody at a hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, following a lead from Providence Police.

Col Perez assured that officers were not pursuing other suspects and were collaborating with prosecutors to gather evidence.

In a separate press briefing, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley noted that seven individuals injured in the shooting were in stable condition, with one in critical condition, while another had been discharged.

The shooting erupted in a classroom of the Holley engineering building at around 4:00 p.m. local time on Saturday, according to official reports.

The identities of the deceased and most victims have not been disclosed, but Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed that all the victims were students.

A report indicated that one of the injured is a registered alumna of Durham Academy in North Carolina, causing concern within that educational community.

In email correspondence, Head of Durham Academy, Michael Ulku-Steiner, expressed support for the injured student and her family.

Further communications from President Paxson indicate that some parts of the campus remain restricted while investigations proceed.

Approximately 2,000 students were relocated to safer locations overnight, prompting gratitude from the university for local residents who offered shelter.

In her remarks, President Paxson emphasized the university's commitment to supporting the families of the deceased.

On the political front, President Donald Trump acknowledged the incident and expressed his hopes for the swift recovery of the injured students.

This shooting marks another addition to the growing number of mass shootings in the US, which has reached 389 this year as reported by the Gun Violence Archive.