Two students were killed and nine others wounded when a gunman opened fire Saturday afternoon during a final exam review session at Brown University’s Barus and Holley Building, sending the Rhode Island campus into lockdown as authorities launched a manhunt that continues two days later.
The shooting erupted around 4:05 p.m. EST on December 13, 2025, in the engineering and physics building, where students had gathered to prepare for end-of-semester tests. Among the dead were Ella Cook, vice president of Brown’s College Republicans, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a freshman who had immigrated from Uzbekistan, according to information released by officials.
Suspect Still at Large
Providence Police on Monday released surveillance images and video footage of the suspect, who remains unidentified and at large. An initial person taken into custody has since been cleared of involvement. The FBI has announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.
“We fully understand that some parents have concerns about students remaining on campus,” Brown University President Christina Paxson wrote in a statement to families. “We continue to be on lockdown, and ensuring everyone’s safety is a priority.”
Investigators have determined the shooter used a 9mm firearm in the attack. Students received an active shooter alert at 4:22 p.m. — roughly 17 minutes after the first shots were reported.
Victims Fighting for Recovery
How severe were the injuries? Of the nine wounded students transported to area hospitals, one remains in critical condition, six are listed as critical but stable, one is stable, and one has been discharged, according to university officials. All victims were Brown students.
“This is a deeply tragic day for Brown, our families and our local community,” President Paxson stated. “There are truly no words that can express the deep sorrow we are feeling for the victims of the shooting that took place today at the Barus & Holley engineering and physics building on our campus today.”
The university has canceled classes and established counseling services for students and staff affected by the violence. Authorities have asked anyone who was in the building at the time to speak with investigators before leaving campus.
The tragedy marks the latest in a series of shootings on American college campuses, reigniting debates about campus security and gun violence prevention. Brown’s typically serene Ivy League campus has been transformed by the presence of tactical vehicles, police tape, and heavily armed officers conducting building-by-building searches.
“The trauma from Saturday extends far beyond those with physical wounds,” Paxson noted in a follow-up message to the community. “The weight of this tragedy bears heavily on all of us.”
