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Manhunt Intensifies for Brown University Gunman as Public Urged to Share Images
Authorities are urgently requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the gunman responsible for a shooting at Brown University on Saturday, December 13, 2025, as frustration mounts over the lack of swift progress in the investigation. The shooting,which left two students dead and multiple others injured,has shaken the providence,Rhode Island community and prompted a massive search effort.
The investigation revealed the suspect was observed in the College Hill neighborhood around 10:30 a.m. local time on the day of the shooting, seemingly “casing out this area to commit the crime,” according to Providence Police Chief col. Oscar Perez. Authorities have released enhanced images and surveillance footage of a person of interest, hoping the public can provide crucial leads.
The Providence Police Department released an enhanced image tuesday showing a person who resembles other images shared by officials. Investigators are meticulously reviewing “terabytes of data,” searching for even the smallest clue, Perez stated. He also appealed to the public to carefully observe the suspect’s posture and movements, hoping to trigger recognition.
The FBI is actively supporting the investigation, deploying “almost 30 victim specialists, special agents and analysts from all over the country” to providence, according to FBI Special Agent Ted Docks. A $50,000 reward is being offered by the FBI’s Boston field office for details leading to the shooter’s arrest and conviction.
The shooting occured shortly after 4 p.m. EST inside a first-floor classroom at the Barus & Holley building, which houses Brown’s engineering and physics departments. Students were preparing for final exams and the upcoming winter break when a masked man with a handgun opened fire. A teaching assistant recounted hiding with approximately 20 students, with those in the middle rows facing the greatest danger. Authorities confirmed a 9 mm handgun was used in the attack.
The investigation has faced setbacks, including the release of a “person of interest” detained Sunday in Coventry, Rhode island.Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha clarified that the individual was “cleared” and is no longer considered a suspect,emphasizing the fluid nature of such investigations.
The victims have been identified as MuhammadAziz Umurzakov, a first-year student from Virginia with aspirations of becoming a neurosurgeon, and Ella Cook, a sophomore from Alabama who served as vice president of Brown’s College Republicans chapter. “These were two young people whose amazing promise was extinguished too soon,” said Brown University President Christina H. Paxson. The names of the injured students are being withheld to protect their privacy.
The aftermath of the shooting has prompted widespread anxiety and calls for increased security. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley acknowledged the profound impact on the city, stating, “It is indeed going to be hard for my city to feel safe going forward. This has shaken us.” Increased police presence has been deployed throughout the city, notably around schools, to reassure residents.
Brown University has canceled all remaining classes, exams, and academic assignments for the semester. The lack of comprehensive video surveillance in and around the barus & holley building has raised concerns, with officials noting that cameras were only present in the newer sections of the building. Students have
