The Buffalo Bills secured a crucial victory against the New England Patriots on Sunday, enhancing their chances at clinching the AFC East title. However, the celebration was overshadowed by a tragic shooting incident that occurred just blocks away at Brown University.
Quarterback Josh Allen, who played a pivotal role in the Bills” Week 15 win in Foxboro, shared that some teammates were dining in Providence, near the scene of the shooting on Saturday afternoon. He remarked on the team”s decision to increase security at their downtown hotel after arriving at Rhode Island”s T.F. Green International Airport earlier in the day. Allen described the event as a “very scary situation.”
“My condolences go out to the families, and my prayers are with everyone affected by it,” Allen stated during the post-game press conference. “It”s a terrible thing. I believe we communicated effectively with everyone, but it was indeed a very frightening experience.”
The Bills remained in their hotel on Sunday morning following the mass shooting that resulted in two fatalities and nine injuries. Authorities apprehended a “person of interest” early Sunday at a hotel in Coventry. Providence, located approximately 25 miles southwest, is closer to Gillette Stadium than Logan Airport in Boston.
Senior NFL insider Dianna Russini from The Athletic reported that the Bills were staying at a hotel less than two miles from the active shooter scene at Brown University. The Patriots expressed their “deepest sympathies to those affected and their families” in a social media post, emphasizing gratitude for the swift actions of first responders and law enforcement who worked to safeguard the community.
The Patriots held a moment of silence for the victims of the shooting in Providence and also for those impacted by a separate incident at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, where at least 11 lives were lost, and numerous others were injured.
Defensive end Joey Bosa of the Bills commented on the shooting, stating he was not with his teammates during the incident. “It”s terrible that we have to confront such issues in our world, but there are individuals who are dangerous,” Bosa noted after the game. “It highlights that while football is significant, there are far more pressing matters, and we should be thankful for being alive and for the chance to compete in games like this.”
Head coach Sean McDermott added that the team came together later on Saturday night to pray for all those affected by the shooting at Brown. “There are aspects in life that surpass football,” he stated. “I felt it was essential for us to unite and reflect on that as a team last night. It is unfortunate and disheartening that such events transpire in our world.”
