Early Sunday morning, a person of interest in the tragic mass shooting at Brown University was taken into custody by police. Now, law enforcement sources have released more details about his identity. They identified him as 24-year-old Benjamin Erickson. Here’s what we know about him so far: BREAKING: The Brown University “person of interest” who has been detained by law enforcement has been identified as 24 year old Benjamin Erickson, per NBC Erickson, born in 2001, has a potentially extensive mental health history, and may have a connection to Brown, per WaPo… pic.twitter.com/0NoIrY2F1j — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) December 14, 2025 BREAKING: The Brown University “person of interest” who has been detained by law enforcement has been identified as 24 year old Benjamin Erickson, per NBC Erickson, born in 2001, has a potentially extensive mental health history, and may have a connection to Brown, per WaPo He supposedly drove from Wisconsin to Providence yesterday, and was detained several miles from the university. Early reports indicated that he yelled “something” before carrying out the shooting, leading many to suspect that this may have been yet another Islamic terror attack. But, Benjamin Erickson certainly doesn’t sound like an Arabic name… We don’t have any details about his motive, at this time. Authorities suspect he had long-term mental health issues. The New York Post reported: The person of interest in the deadly mass shooting at Brown University has been ID’d as a 24-year-old man from Wisconsin with possible long-standing mental-health issues, law-enforcement sources told The Post. Benjamin Erickson was nabbed at a local hotel room after a gunman opened fire at the Ivy League institution’s Providence, RI, campus during a final-exam study session Saturday. The shooter was armed with a handgun and fired more than 40 .9mm rounds during the chaos, law-enforcement officials said. Police have only said a person of interest was taken into custody at a Coventry, RI, hotel at around 3:45 a.m. Sunday. But sources identified the man in custody as Erickson and said authorities are looking into his potential long battle with mental-health problems and also his possible connection to Brown. A revolver — and a small handgun equipped with a special laser light — were found in Erickson’s hotel room, according to sources and CNN. Sources told The Post that the unique laser light on his handgun helped lead them to the person of interest. Benjamin Erickson had military experience, serving from 2021-2024. NBC News confirmed: Public records indicate that as of 2024, Benjamin Erickson’s residence was an apartment in Washington, D.C., and that he previously lived in Wisconsin. Erickson served as an infantryman in the U.S. Army from May 2021 to November 2024, according to a statement from Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Ruth Castro. Initial public records searches do not indicate that he had a previous criminal record. “He has no deployments and left the Army in the rank of specialist,” Castro said. Erickson has been detained as a person of interest in the Brown shooting, three senior law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation told NBC News. No official photos have been released of Erickson, despite a few alleged photos circulating on social media. It’s unclear whether these photos are of the same Benjamin Erickson that was taken into custody or someone else, but I will show you anyways: This is the Brown University mass shooter. 24-year-old Benjamin Erickson from West Bend Wisconsin. Cyber Warfare Officer | United States Army | University of Wisconsin Madison Alum. pic.twitter.com/kFEcrycL8i — JLR© (@JLRINVESTIGATES) December 14, 2025 The suspect in the Brown University shooting has been identified as 24 year old Benjamin Erickson from Wisconsin. Authorities detained Erickson at a hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, about 15 miles southwest of Brown’s campus. Investigators were able to track and locate him… pic.twitter.com/wCKThUpHL0 — Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) December 14, 2025 The suspect in the Brown University shooting has been identified as 24 year old Benjamin Erickson from Wisconsin. Authorities detained Erickson at a hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, about 15 miles southwest of Brown’s campus. Investigators were able to track and locate him using cellphone geolocation data. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more information… Please keep all of the victims and their families in your prayers.

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Politico reported the rumors circulating that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is about to be ousted. The outlet said their reporters spoke with 17 insiders. The claim is that she is on the outs with President Trump over an affair with Corey Lewandowski and the sketchy handling of the funds. One website said that it is […] The post DHS Secretary Kirsti Noem Gossip from 17 Insiders appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) said during a Sunday interview that her son was recently “pulled over” by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents — and that they had only let him go because he was able to produce his passport and confirm his identity. Omar spoke to local CBS News affiliate WCCO in Minnesota, telling interviewer Esme Murphy that her son always carries his passport for just such an occasion. WATCH: Ilhan Omar confirms her son was pulled over and detained by ICE. President Trump also recently announced Ilhan was under investigation for marrying her brother. Denaturalize and deport the entire family. pic.twitter.com/Usuhnwt7vD — DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) December 14, 2025 “Yesterday, after he made a stop at Target, he did get pulled over by ICE agents, and once he was able to produce his passport ID, they did let him go,” Omar explained. “So your son went to Target last night with his passport?” Murphy asked. “He always carries it with him,” Omar said. “In case he gets pulled over?” Murphy clarified. “Which he did, by ICE.” “Yes,” Omar replied, saying that ICE agents had also come into a mosque where her son was, but that they had left without detaining anyone. Following that incident, she said she’d “had to remind him just how worried I am, because all of these areas that they are talking about are areas where he could possibly find himself in and they are racially profiling, they are looking for young men who look Somali that they think are undocumented.” Omar’s interview comes just days after she wrote a letter addressed to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, demanding answers about ICE activities in her home state and claiming that they were driven by President Donald Trump’s “racist comments.” “Constituents, advocates, and local officials have documented blatant racial profiling, an egregious level of unnecessary force, and activity that appears designed for social media rather than befitting a law enforcement agency,” she wrote in part. “I am demanding answers on behalf of my constituents whose constitutional rights are being violated on a daily basis.” “It is clear to me that this surge came in direct response to Trump’s racist comments about Somali people, and about me in particular. Earlier this month, Trump called Somali immigrants ‘garbage’ and ranted that he does not want us in this country,” she added.

Despite news of multiple closures, Whataburger kicked off a nationwide holiday promotion — 12 Days of Whatacheer— and announced plans to expand. The Texas-based burger chain shared bad news for Southern diners this week that has some wondering if it is struggling in an economy that left dozens of long-standing restaurants in bankruptcy this year. Earlier this week, Whataburger announced that four middle Tennessee, two North Georgia, and two Alabama locations will permanently close at 11:59 PM on December 15. Those locations include: Mt. Juliet, TN: 11190 Lebanon Road Murfreesboro, TN: 1924 Memorial Boulevard Clarksville, TN: 791 North 2nd Street Clarksville, TN: 1602 Haynes Street Dahlonega, GA: 254 Riley Road Athens, GA: 700 US-29 Auburn, AL: 101 N. College Street Tuscaloosa, AL: 1130 University Boulevard The Closures Will Help Whataburger Expand According to a statement, the company is shuttering those operations to “focus” its efforts where it “can make the biggest impact.” The decision is not part of a bigger plan to downsize. “We regularly conduct a business review of our locations to maximize opportunities for growth and keep Whataburger strong in the communities we serve. In a few cases, that means closing restaurants,” Whataburger said in a statement. The company hopes to reallocate funding so it can expand into new cities and states. “In 2026 alone, guests will find over 40 new Whataburger locations opening throughout the Southeast,” the statement continued. “While closing any location is a difficult decision, the restaurants closing represent less than one percent of our over 1,100 locations.” This story’s featured image is by Mark Felix for The Washington Post via Getty Images.

'Wear sunscreen and get your skin checked'

Whoever hired this guy, give that man a raise, because this is an absolute gem

'He wanted to stay near me'

Maggots and blowflies, creatures that feast on dead human bodies, serve highly useful purposes by returning organic matter to the soil and removing potential sources of disease. So, it's possible that Chris Murphy might also be of some social utility -- although it's hard to see him as other than a self-promoting ghoul after a shooting. Even the left-leaning Politico has named Murphy, the Democrat junior senator from Connecticut, as one of "The 7 Most Shameless Attention-Seekers in Congress." And sure enough, just hours after the mass shooting at Brown University, there was Murphy on CNN's State of the Union.  Inevitably, Murphy made his pitch for more gun control. And in doing so, Murphy unleashed a scurrilous accusation against President Trump: "Over the last year, President Trump has been engaged in a dizzying campaign to increase violence in this country . . . He has been engaged in a pretty deliberate campaign to try to make violence more likely in this country." Host Dana Bash is no fan of the Second Amendment. At the beginning of the segment, she made sure to establish her lefty bona fides. When Murphy claimed that "we don't have the leadership in Washington to do anything, anything, to respond to the shooting this weekend," Bash oozed empathy: "We haven't had the wherewithal to do anything in Washington . . . for years and years and years." Even so, Bash seemed at least a bit taken aback by Murphy's accusation against Trump. But her pushback was meek and mild: "That's a pretty big statement. He's in a campaign to make violence more likely?" A "big" statement? How about an outrageous one, Dana? Murphy doubled down: "Of course!" So much for "fact checking in real time"!  Murphy's argument in support of his accusation is that Trump is supporting various measures that supposedly make violence more likely. Central was Murphy's claim that: "[Trump] is restoring gun rights to felons and people who have lost their ability to buy guns . . . He's knowingly restoring gun rights to dangerous people . . . When you give gun rights back to dangerous people, you are going to have an increase in violence." Murphy would have viewers believe that Trump has, across the board, restored gun rights to felons, and in particular, to "dangerous" ones. He's lying, and Bash didn't push back. She turned the focus back to recalcitrant Republicans: "Do you think that there is any appetite for any discussion right now?"   Per Grok and Google Gemini: President Trump has not restored gun rights to all felons. Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)) continues to prohibit anyone convicted of a felony (a crime punishable by more than one year in prison) from possessing firearms. This categorical ban remains in effect and has not been repealed or universally lifted. The Trump administration has taken steps to revive a long-dormant federal process for individual relief from this prohibition: In February 2025, President Trump issued an executive order directing a review of gun policies to protect Second Amendment rights. The Department of Justice (DOJ), under Attorney General Pam Bondi, published rules and proposals to restart the relief program under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c). This program, defunded by Congress since 1992, allows certain prohibited persons (including some felons) to apply on a case-by-case basis for restoration of federal gun rights. The DOJ emphasizes that relief is for individuals deemed not "likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety," with presumptive ineligibility for violent felons, domestic abusers, sex offenders, and others considered high-risk. Focus is primarily on non-violent offenders (e.g., white-collar crimes, drug possession, or property offenses) who have shown rehabilitation. As of mid-2025, the DOJ has granted relief to a small number of individuals, around 10 reported cases. It is not a blanket restoration — violent felons and those posing ongoing risks remain barred.  Under the proposed "relief from disability" program, several categories of individuals and specific types of felonies would be presumed permanently ineligible for gun rights restoration, absent extraordinary circumstances.  The categories that face this strong presumption of denial include individuals convicted of crimes involving violence. This includes offenses such as: Homicide/Murder Sexual Assault/Rape Kidnapping Burglary Robbery Arson Crimes that involve physical force or an element of violence Threatening or stalking offenses Any firearm-related conviction involving violence Sex Offenders Fugitives from justice Unlawful users of controlled substances Individuals subject to active domestic violence restraining orders Unlawfully present aliens Individuals with recent mental health commitments or adjudications  To label as a scurrilous lie Murphy's accusation that Trump has engaged in a deliberate campaign to increase violence by restoring gun rights to violent felons would be a gross understatement.  Chris Murphy faces a steep path to rise to the social utility level of maggots and blowflies. But in the spirit of the Christmas season, we'll hold out a modicum of hope for him.  CNN State of the Union 12/14/25 9:05 am ET CHRIS MURPHY: Unfortunately, right now we don't have the leadership in Washington to do anything, anything, to respond to the shooting this weekend.  DANA BASH: Yeah, well, we haven't had the wherewithal to do anything in Washington of, I mean, we did a little bit a few years ago, but of means for years and years and years.  . . .  MURPHY: Over the last year, President Trump has been engaged in a dizzying campaign to increase violence in this country. He is restoring gun rights to felons and people who have lost their ability to buy guns.  He eliminated the White House Office of Gun Violence Protection. And he has stopped funding mental health grants and community anti-gun violence grants that Republicans and Democrats supported in that 2022 bill.  So he has been engaged in a pretty deliberate campaign to try to make violence more likely in this country. And I think you're unfortunately going to see the results of that on the streets of America.  BASH: That's a pretty big statement. He's in a campaign to make violence more likely?  MURPHY: Of course. I mean, he's knowingly restoring gun rights to dangerous people. He is cutting off grants that have bipartisan support to try to interrupt violence in our cities or to try to get necessary mental health resources to families and children in need. The evidence tells you that when you stop funding mental health, when you stop funding community anti-gun violence programs, when you give gun rights back to dangerous people, you are going to have an increase in violence that is knowable and that is foreseeable. 

Something has gone wrong. After years of being told they are toxic and problematic, many men have simply cowed in deference to the spirit of our age. They imbibed the poisonous slogans and succumbed to what the world says about them. Those who live day after day in a state of passivity give themselves over to a lie.Some men attempt to punch back either by embracing their “toxicity” or ideologies that are slapped onto them. The temptation in such an age is for men to become passive. This passivity is not a new temptation for men. It is the same temptation that Adam failed to defeat in the garden. Passivity is that peculiar behavior that gives into evil, often standing back and doing nothing. It is the soul bowed in deference. The passive man does not resist the evil doer, he gives in, and doesn’t stand firm in the faith. Even in reacting against the spirit of the age, men can become passive and allow the enemy to set the terms of the engagement. The more common expression of passivity is the man who becomes “nice” in order to placate like a dog who cowers and tucks its tail hoping to stave off any harm. The passive man is an agreeable man. He wants to keep his head down. He would rather be dead than ever appear intimidating to anyone or anything.The man who rejects passivity, on the other hand, is often perceived to be arrogant. He is something who can be accused of “thinking too highly” of himself. But the opposite of passivity is not arrogance but agency. We need men of agency. Men who act, initiate, and change what is within their power to change. Agency is taking responsibility and pushing forward in the face of opposition and obstacles. It is faith in motion. As James 2:17 says, “Faith without works is dead.”There are two main contentions that keep Christian men particularly from taking agency. First, they are told that control is a dangerous idol. Christians, men included, are often taught that if they try to exercise control, then they are not trusting God. This is reflected in surveys of pastors who claim that control is a top idol among their churches. Pastor Eric Geiger, for example, identifies “control” as a “root idol.” For Geiger, control is “a longing to have everything go according to my plan.” Heaven forbid that people want things to go according to plan. Second, they are told that power is inherently bad. Therefore any accumulation of or dispensing of power is considered dangerous and harmful to others. Geiger also frames power itself as a number one root idol that he defines as "a longing for influence or recognition." He encourages Christians to repent of their longing for power and control.Both of these spurious notions are not rooted in scripture but in the upside-down world of the enemy who desires that Christians control nothing and have no power. RELATED: Dear Christian: God didn't call you to be a 'beautiful loser' RomoloTavani/iStock/Getty Images PlusCan a Christian idolize power? Sure. Can a Christian idolize control? Yep. But there is very little nuance when these pastors and Christian leaders speak. They simply wish to denounce power and control, both key ingredients in exercising agency. People who excel at agency — let's call it "high agency" — know what is within their power and control and how to maximize it for good. People with passivity or low agency instead fall back and behave as if nothing is within their control and that they cannot change anything. Sadly it seems that low agency is what is required in some churches today. It is often reframed as a virtue where one is fully trusting God when, in reality, they have relinquished control. Much of the depression, anxiety, and despondency we witness in our world is better understood as passivity and low agency. It is the posture of the soul that just gives itself over to obstacles. Rather than exhibiting resiliency and exertion when in duress, the passive person simply gives up. Consumerism only enables this type of low-exertion lifestyle where people become habituated to quick fixes and easy solutions. Those who live day after day in a state of passivity give themselves over to a lie: They cannot change, nothing will change, they are helpless. When believed en masse, this kind of population is easy to control because they have forsaken control themselves. They are always looking for a strong person, ideology, or drink to fix their problems.This is particularly problematic in Christianity. We believe in providence and human responsibility. We are to love the Lord Jesus Christ by obedience, walking in righteousness and putting to death the deeds of the flesh. Our faith in God should always move us to act in courage as we do not doubt the goodness of God. Agency works along the path of God’s providence and faith. It is the car on the road — and we are called to accelerate.God may give you more than you can handle. He is generous in this way. In our feelings of being overwhelmed or swamped, God invites us to take action and trust in Him. If things do not go as planned, we trust the God who is in total control.We need men today who gain power and control. They must first master themselves to worship the master, Jesus Christ. By the Spirit, we are able to exercise discipline and control over our bodies and put them to good use for God’s glory. One of the quickest ways to slip into passivity is to wait to act until everything is easy. This day is probably not coming for you. Let’s say you want to get married. The man of agency will take the first step he can in finding a bride instead of just waiting around until she appears. Passivity often leads to thinking like a victim. It invites jealousy and contempt for others because others seem to be in control and have power. It creates anxiety because it is always worried about failing or things not working out. Instead the agentic man trusts God’s providence, looks at what he has been given, and works out the problem. In our age of anxiety, agency is the answer. Agency works along the path of God’s providence and faith. It is the car on the road — and we are called to accelerate (and brake when necessary). Men who exude agency will be misperceived today. They will be called prideful, toxic, power-hungry, and controlling. But none of these descriptions are necessarily true. They are simply the reaction strong men receive in an age of passivity. The strong men that are needed in our hard times are ones who take the initiative, assume responsibility, and never give into evil. They are men of high agency.