As the intense manhunt for the perpetrator of the deadly Brown University shooting entered its fourth day on Tuesday, a new twist emerged on social media. Users across platforms claimed that the digital footprints of a specific student were being systematically erased, even as law enforcement officials continued to withhold the name of any official suspect.
Social Media Alleges Profile Scrubbing
While authorities have not named any suspects publicly, online sleuths pointed fingers at a first-year student named Mustapha Kharbouch. Multiple posts on platform X (formerly Twitter) alleged that Brown University had removed Kharbouch's profile page from its official website. The claim, which remains unverified, sparked a wave of speculation and concern.
The now-removed university profile, as cited by users, described Kharbouch as a student of International & Public Affairs. He was identified as a third-generation Palestinian refugee born and raised in Lebanon, who had earned a scholarship to attend UWC Maastricht before Brown. The profile reportedly highlighted his leadership in community-building initiatives and social change roles.
"Palestinian activist, Mustapha Kharbouch. Brown University has taken down information about their student from their websites. X has also removed his X account (FBI request?)," one user wrote. Another questioned, "Why is Brown University now actively scrubbing all of their articles & links on their student assistant Mustapha Kharbouch???"
Timeline of the Providence Shooting and Investigation
The incident that triggered this massive investigation occurred on December 13. A mass shooting unfolded inside a classroom at the Barus & Holley Engineering and Physics Building at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, during exam-period activities. The attack, which took place around 4 pm, resulted in a tragic toll: two students were killed and nine others were wounded.
The investigation has seen several dramatic turns:
- December 13: Former President Donald Trump initially announced the shooter was in custody but later corrected himself, confirming the manhunt was ongoing. Surveillance footage was released showing the shooter walking, though his face was not visible.
- December 14: Early morning, a person of interest was detained from a hotel. However, late that night, officials announced this individual would be released due to a lack of solid evidence linking him to the shooting. His name was subsequently leaked.
- December 15: The search continued with the release of new footage, which again did not reveal the shooter's face.
- December 16: The FBI escalated efforts, offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of the man, whom they described as 'armed and dangerous'.
Unverified Claims and Ongoing Search
The central claim regarding the deletion of Mustapha Kharbouch's online profiles remains in the realm of social media speculation without official confirmation. Law enforcement has not linked him publicly to the crime. The focus of the FBI and local authorities remains on the active manhunt, leveraging the substantial reward and public assistance to locate the armed and dangerous individual responsible for the campus tragedy.
The situation underscores the complex interplay between real-world investigations and the rapid, often unverified, spread of information on digital platforms during high-profile crises. The Brown University community and the city of Providence await a breakthrough in the case as the search enters a critical phase.
