After Brown Shooting, Police Reset Investigation as Community Grieves

December 15, 2025

A shooting at Brown University's engineering building during an exam review session left two students dead and nine wounded, marking the deadliest incident in the school's history. Police released a person initially detained and are continuing an extensive manhunt for the masked gunman who remains unidentified and at large. The university has canceled remaining in-person classes and exams while expanding security and mental health services for traumatized students.

Who is affected

Muhammad Aziz Umurzokov (18-year-old first-year student from Uzbekistan) - deceased
Ella Cook (sophomore from Mountain Brook, Alabama) - deceased
Nine wounded students (one in critical condition)
Approximately 2,000 students relocated during the lockdown
Brown University students, families, and faculty
Nearby colleges and schools across New England
Providence residents and businesses near campus

What action is being taken

Police and investigators are conducting a wide-ranging manhunt and canvassing neighborhoods near campus
Authorities are urging residents and businesses to review security footage
Brown University has increased security patrols with assistance from local, state, and federal agencies
The university is expanding counseling and mental health services
Surveillance video of the suspect has been released by police

Why it matters

This is the deadliest shooting in Brown University's history, creating widespread trauma and fear across the campus community and surrounding area. The fact that the gunman remains at large has generated significant unease and prompted heightened security measures at schools throughout New England. Early investigative missteps, including the announcement and reversal of a person of interest, have deepened anxiety among students and parents during an already vulnerable time at the end of the academic semester.

What's next

The investigation will continue with ongoing information sharing as it becomes available
Brown University has canceled all remaining in-person exams and classes for the semester

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer