‘Person of interest’ detained over Brown University shooting is to be released, officials say
The hunt for a gunman who killed two people and injured nine others at Brown University continued on Monday after authorities released their sole person of interest on Sunday.
The person in their 20s was released after the investigation ended up going in a “different direction”, according to the mayor of Providence, Brett Smiley.
“We have not yet solved this case, but I am confident we are going to do that in the near future,” Rhode Island attorney general Peter Neronha said, adding there was only a “quantum of evidence which justified detaining this person as a person of interest”.
The Providence police department said the investigation is “active and ongoing”, with local officers working with state police, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies.
A gunman – dressed in black – opened fire at the Ivy League university in Providence, Rhode Island, during final exams at one of America’s most prestigious colleges on Saturday.
Authorities are now searching for additional video evidence that could help them track down the suspect.
Brown University said in a statement that local police “have advised they do not believe there is any immediate threat to Brown or the local community.”
The identities of the two people killed have not yet been released, but the university has confirmed they were both students.
Key events
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley appeared on Good Morning America this morning, and said that after authorities reviewed the evidence in the case, it was “determined that this person of interest needed to be released”.
“We continue with our investigation” Smiley said. “To be clear, we’ve never stopped our investigation. Providence police and our partners at the State Police, the FBI and others have continuously run down leads and worked this case beyond the person of interest who had been detained.”
“As you have seen many times, we do have a short small clip of video footage that we do believe is the person that we’re looking for” he said. “And right now we don’t have any evidence to suggest that it was more than that individual which has been seen in that video.”
The Mayor said that there is currently enhanced police presence both on campus at Brown and throughout the city of Providence.
One of the victims killed in Saturday’s shooting has been identified as student Ella Cook, who was from Alabama.
Her name was announced during a church service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama, where the Reverend said she attended.
“Tragically, one of our parishioners, Ella Cook, was one of those who was killed yesterday,” Reverend Craig Smalley said during the service on Sunday, which was live streamed. “And those of you who knew her, those of you who know her, she was an incredible, grounded, faithful bright light
“Not only here growing up here at the Advent in the myriad ways in which she served faithfully and the ways in which she encouraged and lift up those around her, but at Brown University she was an incredible light in that particular place” Smalley said.
The New York Young Republican Club also put out a statement on Sunday expressing their “deepest condolences to the family of Ella Cook” who they said was “the Vice President of the College Republicans at Brown University.”
In another statement, Martin Bertao, the president of the College Republicans of America, said that “we are devastated to learn of the loss of our Brown College Republicans Vice President, Ella Cook.”
“Ella was known for her bold, brave, and kind heard as she served her chapter and her fellow classmates” they added.
More tributes to Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov came from the American Uzbekistan Association, who said he “was known for his sharp intellect, kind heart, and quiet willingness to help anyone in need”.
The association wrote on Instagram, praising his “humility and compassion” as well as his “curiosity, discipline, and generosity”.
The statement added:
More than a gifted student, Aziz was a beloved son, brother, and friend. He had a future filled with promise, and his life was cut short far too soon. His passing has left an immeasurable void in the hearts of his family, friends, classmates, and the broader Uzbek American community.
On behalf of the American Uzbekistan Association, we extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Mukhammad Aziz’s family during this time of unimaginable grief. We stand with them in mourning and are grateful to all who have offered prayers, messages of support, and solidarity.
MukhammadAziz will be remembered for his kindness, his potential, and the light he brought into the lives of others. His memory will endure.
One of the nine people injured in the shooting was named as Kendall Turner in media reports.
The Raleigh News & Observers reported Turner, from Durham, North Carolina, was among those wounded in the mass shooting on Saturday.
“We were saddened to learn that Kendall Turner ‘25, a beloved Durham Academy alumna, was wounded in the mass shooting that occurred at Brown University yesterday,” the publication quotes Michael Ulku-Steiner, who leads the school, as saying. “Her family has informed us that she is currently in critical but stable condition and is receiving care at a local hospital. Her parents are with her. We hope for her continued strength and recovery.”
The US ambassador to Uzbekistan paid tribute to Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov.
In a statement, Jonathan Henick said: “I am deeply saddened by reports of the tragic death of Brown University student Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov on December 13. We extend our sincere condolences to Mr. Umurzokov’s family, friends, and fellow students and mourn the loss of his bright future.”
Shooting victims named in reports as Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook
The two people killed in Saturday’s shooting have been identified as Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook, according to reports.
Aspiring neurosurgeon Umurzokov was identified by his family in a Gofundme page. In a message on the site, they said: “He was incredibly kind, funny, and smart. He had big dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon and helping people. He continues to be my family’s biggest role model in all aspects.
“He always lent a helping hand to anyone in need without hesitation, and was the most kind-hearted person our family knew. Our family is incredibly devastated by this loss.”
The Gofundme appeal had raised nearly $230,000 by Monday morning.
The Providence Journal reports that Cook’s death was announced during a service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama, where she was reportedly a parishioner. The Rev Craig Smalley said in livestreamed remarks: “Many of you heard about the tragedy … And sadly, tragically, one of those people is one of our parishioners.”
Smalley said Cook was a “bright light”, “incredibly grounded and generous and faithful”.
The FBI director, Kash Patel, said on Sunday that the FBI had activated its “cellular analysis survey team to provide critical geolocation capabilities” to aid with the investigation.
“We have deployed local and national resources to process and reconstruct the shooting scene – providing HQ and Lab elements on scene” he said, adding that the agency said also “set up a digital media intake portal to ingest images and video from the public” related to the shooting.
The FBI’s victim specialists are also “fully integrating with our partners to provide resources to victims and survivors of this horrific violence” he said. “This FBI will continue an all out 24/7 campaign until justice is fully served”.
On Sunday, Brown University said that the school has cancelled “all remaining in-person exams” for Fall 2025 courses in the wake of the shooting.
In a statement, the university’s provost said that “we must balance the importance of providing clear guidance on educational assessment with our responsibility to ensure the thriving of every member of our community.”
“We have decided to cancel all remaining in-person exams for Fall 2025 courses at all schools, with the exception of the Warren Alpert Medical School and the IE Brown Executive MBA program in the School of Professional Studies (SPS)” they added.
Brown University has told the university community that despite individual that was detained being released and as law enforcement continues to investigate, they do not “believe there is any immediate threat to Brown or the local community.”
In a statement on Sunday night, the university added that “as Providence police continue to lead this investigation, they have informed Brown that they are continuing their search efforts, which includes ongoing coordination with multiple agencies.”
The school said that its Department of Public Safety has more than doubled its staffing, and that there “continues to be a heightened amount of local, state and federal police activity in the area”.
The Providence Police have said that investigation is ongoing and remains fully active between all agencies.
The police announced on Sunday night that the person of interest was being released and said that since the first call to 911, they have “not received any specific threats to our community.”
They asked that any and all video and photo evidence be submitted via phone or via the FBI tip line.
Brown University announced on Sunday that it was temporarily delaying the release of admissions decisions for applicants who were meant to find out today whether they had been admitted to the school.
“The Brown University community suffered an unthinkable tragedy on Saturday evening” the school said in a post. “We are faced with the reality of mourning the loss of members of our community taken from us from a terrible act of violence, even as we acknowledge that we’re on the eve of a very important day for our many talented applicants to Brown.”
The school added: “While we remain excited about the dedicated students eager to join Brown, we are prioritizing care and support for our community and anticipate a brief delay in the release of admission decisions. We are going to delay notifications for up to 48 hours and appreciate your patience and understanding as we grieve, heal, and begin to move forward together.”
‘Person of interest’ detained over Brown University shooting is to be released, officials say
The hunt for a gunman who killed two people and injured nine others at Brown University continued on Monday after authorities released their sole person of interest on Sunday.
The person in their 20s was released after the investigation ended up going in a “different direction”, according to the mayor of Providence, Brett Smiley.
“We have not yet solved this case, but I am confident we are going to do that in the near future,” Rhode Island attorney general Peter Neronha said, adding there was only a “quantum of evidence which justified detaining this person as a person of interest”.
The Providence police department said the investigation is “active and ongoing”, with local officers working with state police, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies.
A gunman – dressed in black – opened fire at the Ivy League university in Providence, Rhode Island, during final exams at one of America’s most prestigious colleges on Saturday.
Authorities are now searching for additional video evidence that could help them track down the suspect.
Brown University said in a statement that local police “have advised they do not believe there is any immediate threat to Brown or the local community.”
The identities of the two people killed have not yet been released, but the university has confirmed they were both students.
