'Big shock': Neighbor reacts to Cedarburg man being detained, released in Brown University mass shooting
CEDARBURG, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee-area hometown is reacting to what was at first believed to be a local link to a weekend mass shooting in Rhode Island. Police in Providence are asking the public for help as they search for the person who opened fire inside a classroom at Brown University. Two students were killed and at least nine others were wounded.
Police reported that they were questioning a person of interest - who has since been released. It was reported by various national sources that the individual was a 24-year-old man from Cedarburg.
For hours Sunday afternoon, investigators were surrounding a home in a quiet Cedarburg neighborhood, trying to connect the 24-year-old Wisconsin native to the mass shooting at Brown University. Neighbors said they were shocked to hear the accusations and are relieved the man they've known for years is not responsible.
"This person’s in custody and it sounded like the prime suspect. So that’s a big shock," shared Mark Sorenson, who's lived across the street from the home of the now-released person of interest.
He says he never would have guessed the 24-year-old Cedarburg man would be at the center of the national spotlight.
"[He's a] nice guy, always friendly. In the conversations I can tell he’s a smart guy, and he’s always been courteous and friendly," said Sorenson.
Various national sources had claimed the Wisconsin individual was the "person of interest." The man, who CBS 58 is not naming, lived in a once-calm area, according to Sorensen.
Mark Sorenson
Providence police say they had followed up on a tip identifying the Cedarburg man as their person of interest, then followed up by the FBI. But officials say there wasn't enough to confirm him as the one responsible.
"Certainly there was some degree of evidence that pointed to this individual, but that evidence needed to be corroborated and confirmed. And over the last 24 hours leading into just, just very, very recently, that evidence now points in a different direction," said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said.
"I feel for the victims of the shooting. That has not changed, but tremendous relief for the family. And great relief for [his neighbor]. And happy that the law enforcement system has apparently corrected its initial thinking and it’s making progress into finding the person," said Sorenson.
Sorenson went on to say that he hasn't spoken with the family at the center of all of this, saying he wants to give them space, but wants to tell them that they are loved and he's there for them.
Rhode Island police said this was "not a mistake," but a setback as they are continuing their investigation to find the person responsible.