Brown University shooting manhunt resets with release of person of interest
The search for a gunman in the deadly Brown University shooting remains ongoing after officials in Providence, Rhode Island, announced late Sunday that a detained person of interest would be released from custody.
Coverage for this event has ended.
The gunman 鈥渄efinitely targeted鈥 Brown University, though authorities are looking for other possible motives, officials said Monday.
鈥淲hat I can tell you is that this individual definitely targeted Brown University,鈥 Chief Colonel Oscar L. Perez, Jr. said at a news conference.
鈥淥bviously, it鈥檚 something we鈥檙e looking into, as far as if there was anything else that he was targeting," he added.
Perez said the families of the victims have been cooperative and that authorities were investigating reports that the gunman yelled something during the shooting.
FBI Director Kash Patel reiterated Monday that the agency remains fully committed to assisting in the investigation of the Brown University shooting, including deploying additional resources and personnel.
鈥淎t this time, the FBI continues to act in an assisting role with the Providence PD leading the investigation,鈥 Patel said in a post on X.
鈥淲e will continue providing all assets, resources, and personnel necessary to support. We sent additional resources and personnel earlier today to help track down leads, canvass neighborhoods, and develop intelligence. Our Evidence Response Team remains on campus processing the scene, and our Lab at Quantico is assisting as well.鈥
Patel reminded the public that the FBI is offering up to $50,000 for information leading to the suspect鈥檚 identification and arrest, and that new photos of the person of interest have been released.
鈥淭his evening, FBI and partners released new photos of the person of interest,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he FBl is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the individual. Anyone with information please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or the Providence Police Department at 401-272-3121. You can also visit tips.fbi.gov.鈥
鈥淢ost importantly - please continue praying for Brown University, the victims in this horrible tragedy, and all their families and friends.鈥
The Providence Police Department wants to speak with anyone from Brown University who was in the building where a gunman killed two students over the weekend.
鈥淭he Providence Police Department has asked that anyone from Brown who was in Barus & Holley on Friday or Saturday, Dec. 12-13, arrange for an interview,鈥 the school said in a message posted on X.
鈥淓ven an incidental detail may be helpful in investigating,鈥 the message continued.
Those reaching out to the police are being asked to provide their name, email and the time frame and their location in the building at the time they were there.
A Brown University student who works in the building where a gunman opened fire over the weekend, killing two people, is feeling scared about her safety on the Ivy League campus amid a manhunt for the shooter.
Lydia, a Ph.D engineering student who declined to give her last name, told 91爆料 Digital that she works in the basement of the Barus & Holley academic building,
鈥淚 know exactly the classroom that this happened in,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 had my orientation there. I can't tell you how many times I've walked past that room.鈥
鈥淚t's weird that I had a Zoom call with my lab today because we couldn't meet in person in our lab,鈥 she added. 鈥淎nd I don't know when my lab is not going to be considered an active crime scene.鈥
Lydia said she hopes the gunman, who remains on the loose, is caught quickly.
鈥淚've never felt unsafe walking anywhere until now,鈥 she said.
A Brown University graduate student who has now lived through two campus shootings says she is in disbelief after the suspect initially detained in Sunday night鈥檚 shooting was released less than a day later.
The second-year biotech master鈥檚 student told 91爆料 Digital she was at her off-campus home in Fox Point when the gunfire broke out.
The moment triggered memories of the 2023 shooting at the University of North Carolina, where she spent eight hours locked in a lab while a professor was killed in a nearby building.
"I was in lab 鈥 I was locked in lab for like eight hours," she said. "It was very similar to this in the sense that not a lot of students knew what was going on. Everyone was feeding each other misinformation because everyone鈥檚 scared. Everyone is just so scared when they hear stuff."
The student stressed that the two shootings were very different, noting the Brown incident involved multiple victims 鈥 a "mass casualty," in her words. But the emotional experience, she said, was still "equally as scary."
Speaking about the Brown shooting, the student said her colleagues initially breathed a sigh of relief when police announced they had taken a suspect into custody. But when authorities later released that same individual, panic spread across campus.
"It was really, really scary," she told 91爆料 Digital. "Most of my friends have already left. My parents called saying they were driving up from Georgia to get me."
Videos released by authorities shows a person of interest walking the streets hours before a gunman opened fire at Brown University.
The Providence Police Department released the footage to the public in an effort to identify the person seen on camera.
Authorities described him as approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall with a stocky build.
Images show a person dressed in dark clothing with a face mask and beanie walking in what appears to be a residential area.
Police in Providence said the school would have to answer as to why no sirens went off during the shooting at Brown University.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley was asked if he has spoken with the university about its alarm system, but deferred the question to Brown, which did not have a representative at a Monday evening news conference where authorities released new images of a person of interest.
Instead, the mayor praised the police response, saying it was 鈥渟wift" and 鈥渢imely鈥 after authorities received the initial call about the attack.
鈥淏rown has to answer that question,鈥 Smiley said of the university's alert system. 鈥淭he police response to the initial call was swift, timely. We don't believe there was any鈥 it could not have happened any faster than did.鈥
鈥淚 can't speak to honestly. Don't know a lot about their alarm system,鈥 he added. 鈥淵ou'd have to ask them about it. But in terms of our response, it was nearly immediately.鈥
The FBI released new images of a person of interest in the mass shooting at Brown University.
The FBI's Boston field office released three images, showing someone wearing dark clothing, captured from surveillance cameras.
The images were retrieved around 2 p.m. Saturday, two hours before the shooting, authorities said.
Several rounds were fired from a 9mm handgun, authorities said. The person of interest was described as a male, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall with a stocky build.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the individual.
The Rhode Island Republican Party said it was "devastated" to learn of the death of Ella Cook, vice president of the Brown College Republicans, following the deadly mass shooting at a Brown University academic building.
Joe Powers, chairman of the RIGOP, described Cook as a "bold, faithful, and inspiring young conservative leader" who fearlessly shared beliefs on campus.
"Described by those who knew her as a 鈥榖right light,鈥 kind, and grounded, Ella embodied the very best of the next generation of conservative voices," he said in a statement.
"We extend our deepest condolences and fervent prayers to Ella鈥檚 family, her congregation at Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, AL, her friends, the Brown College Republicans, the entire Brown University community, MukhammadAziz Umurzakov and his family during this time of profound grief and anxiety," he added, referring to Umurzakov, the second victim killed in the attack. "Our thoughts are with students across Rhode Island who are reeling in fear from this terrible event, and with our law enforcement community as they continue to exhaust all measures in bringing the murderer to justice."
Cook was a sophomore at the university.
Rhode Islanders are calling for answers from authorities as the Brown University gunman remains on the loose.
On Monday, 91爆料 Digital spoke with Eve Stieglitz, whose parents live close to Brown University on Providence's East Side.
Stieglitz, who was in the area for the holidays, said that Rhode Islanders have "zero faith in the security system right now."
"People are shocked by the lack of footage and very uncomfortable," she said.
鈥淭here are thousands of cameras in that neighborhood and around campus 鈥 I don鈥檛 understand how this could go amiss. How is there no video of the shooter? I don鈥檛 understand how a $70,000-a-year university doesn鈥檛 have that level of security."
Stieglitz also described the East Side as "tight-knit" and called for members of the public to share their eyewitness accounts. "What did the killer look like? What was said? The public deserves that information," she said. 鈥淭he shooter is still at large, and that's really troubling."
As the manhunt for the Brown University gunman continues, Providence residents are on high alert against danger.
91爆料 Digital spoke with a Providence resident named Seth, who works in real estate. Though he was out of town during the shooting, he said several tenants contacted him.
"[They] called me to ask for better security at the property, and one asked me to send someone immediately to repair the front exterior door lock which hasn't been working well because she felt unsafe with a shooter out there," he said. "I totally understand."
"I live in the area. I regularly leave my door unlocked...bad habit maybe, but I've never had an issue before this... it's a very safe neighborhood."
"When I got in after the trip, I was legitimately scared to enter," he added. "Because of this, I'll start locking my door."
President Donald Trump said he hopes authorities capture the 鈥渁nimal鈥 responsible for the deadly shooting at Brown University.
Trump was speaking to reporters Monday when he was asked about a potential motive for the attack.
鈥淣o, we don't. Hopefully they're going to capture this animal,鈥 he said in the Oval Office.
Trump was further asked if FBI Director Kash Patel has told him why authorities have not identified the shooter or made an arrest.
鈥淵ou really have to ask the school a little bit more about that because, you know, this was a school problem,鈥 Trump replied. 鈥淭hey had their own guards. They had their own police, had their own everything. But you'd have to ask that question really to the school, not to the FBI. We came in after the fact, and the FBI will do a good job, but they came in after the fact.鈥
The FBI is assisting local law enforcement in Rhode Island in their investigation but is not the lead agency.
Investigators on Monday continued to comb through bushes looking for forensic evidence next to the Brown University academic building where the shooting occurred.
At least 20 law-enforcement agents from the FBI were seen outside the Barus and Holley engineering and physics building appearing to be looking for evidence.
Behind the building, several law-enforcement agents were seen standing outside, one with a shovel.
FBI agents were also spotted walking around the building and digging their feet in the snow searching for evidence.
At one point, a female FBI agent collected an item and placed it in a brown bag. It's unclear what was collected. The FBI surged resources Monday morning at the request of Director Kash Patel.
The bureau isn't the lead agency in the investigation but is assisting local authorities.
The Providence Police Department released a new video of a person of interest Monday.
"We are sharing a video of a person of interest and plan to release additional video as part of the ongoing investigation," the department wrote on X. "If you recognize this individual, please contact our Tip Center online at https://fbi.gov/brownuniversityshooting or call 401-272-3121."
The footage shows someone wearing dark clothing walking on a sidewalk at around 4:06 p.m. ET.
The person's face was not visible.
Police in Providence, Rhode Island, are going to businesses and homes to ask for video footage to help investigators track down the gunman who killed two students and wounded nine others at Brown University, Providence Mayor Bret Smiley said Monday.
Smile advised the community that police have an 鈥渆nhanced presence鈥 in the city鈥檚 neighborhoods in the wake of the shooting.
He also reiterated officials鈥 calls for tips from the public.
The public can submit tips to police by calling (401) 272-3121 or via the FBI鈥檚 tipline.
The second victim killed in the Brown University campus shooting has been identified as Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov.
鈥淚 am heartbroken to learn that Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov 鈥 who just graduated from Midlothian High School 鈥 is among the victims of the horrific act of violence at Brown University,鈥 Virginia Governor-elect Abigail Spanger wrote on X. 鈥淎dam and I are praying for his family and all those impacted by this tragedy.鈥
Umurzokov鈥檚 family wrote in a GoFundMe post that he 鈥渉ad big dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon and helping people.鈥
鈥淗e always lent a helping hand to anyone in need without hesitation, and was the most kind-hearted person our family knew,鈥 the post read. 鈥淥ur family is incredibly devastated by this loss.鈥
The New York Times reported that Umurzokov and his family are naturalized citizens from Uzbekistan now living in Virginia.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin offered condolences for Umurzokov and the other student killed, Ella Cook, in a post on X.
鈥淲e are praying for the victims of the horrendous act of evil at Brown University: Ella Cook from Birmingham, Alabama, and Midlothian High School鈥檚 own Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov,鈥 the governor wrote. 鈥淲e lift up their families, friends and communities in a prayer of comfort and peace.鈥
One of the nine students wounded during the shooting at Brown University on Saturday has been identified as Kendall Turner.
Durham Academy, the private K-12 school that Turner attended in Durham, North Carolina, told 91爆料 in a statement that Turner鈥檚 family informed them that she is receiving care at a local hospital.
鈥淲e were deeply saddened to learn that Kendall Turner 鈥25, a beloved Durham Academy alumna, was wounded in the mass shooting that occurred at Brown University,鈥 the statement said. 鈥淗er family has informed us that she is currently in critical but stable condition and is receiving care at a local hospital.鈥
It continued: 鈥淗er parents are with her. We hope for her continued strength and recovery.鈥
Turner was one of nine students wounded when a gunman opened fire inside a classroom in the Barus and Holley engineering building around 4 p.m. Saturday. Two other students were killed.
One of the students killed was identified as Alabama native Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore and vice president of Brown College Republicans.
The names of the other student victims were not immediately released to the public.
鈥淥ur thoughts and prayers are with Kendall, her family, and all members of the Brown University community during this incredibly difficult time,鈥 Durham Academy said. 鈥淥ur school community is rallying around Kendall, her classmates, and her loved ones, and we will continue to offer our full support in the days ahead.鈥
91爆料鈥 CB Cotton contributed to this report.
Police in Providence, Rhode Island, asked the community on Monday to submit any tips to authorities as they work to track down the gunman who killed two students and wounded nine others at Brown University.
鈥淎s the investigation continues, we are asking anyone with relevant information, including video or photo evidence, to submit it by phone or through the FBI tip line,鈥 read the police department鈥檚 post on X.
The public can submit tips to police by calling (401) 272-3121 or via the .
As authorities work to track down the Brown University gunman, this map shows the location of the shooting in relation to where surveillance video later captured a man dressed in all black at an intersection.
The shooting happened inside a classroom in the Barus and Holley engineering building around 4 p.m. Saturday. Two students were killed, and nine students were wounded.
According to video footage released by police, the suspected gunman was seen leaving the building on foot.
Officials have said the surveillance video is still the "most useful" to help track down the shooter.
Former FBI special agent Nicole Parker told 鈥淔ox & Friends First鈥 that the detention and subsequent release of a person of interest in the Brown University shooting is how investigations work in the 鈥渞eal world.鈥
Parker said that while the release of the person of interest is 鈥渙bviously not very good for this investigation,鈥 it 鈥渄oes happen.鈥
鈥淭his is how investigations in the real world work," Parker said. "We鈥檙e used to watching television shows, movies where it鈥檚 solved within 60 minutes, and that鈥檚 not always the case.鈥
Parker said that the investigation remains 鈥渁n all hands on deck鈥 situation for authorities as they continue to hunt the gunman.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e got to go back to the drawing board,鈥 she said of the investigators.
Parker said that as an investigator, it鈥檚 important to look whether the shooter was firing indiscriminately into the classroom or appeared to be a more targeted attack based on the victims.
The first victim of the Brown University shooting has been identified as sophomore Ella Cook, according to her home church in Alabama.
Cook, 19, was from Birmingham, Alabama, and served as vice president of Brown's college Republican club.
Cook was identified at one of the victims by during a service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham on Sunday.
The priest described Cook as a 鈥渢remendous bright light鈥 for all who interacted with her.
Cook is survived by her parents and two siblings.
Brown University urged its community to remain vigilant in a message late Sunday night after Providence police released a detained person of interest from custody and reset its manhunt for the gunman who killed two students and wounded nine others on Saturday.
鈥淎s 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,鈥 the message read, in part. 鈥淭here continues to be a heightened amount of local, state and federal police activity in the area as law enforcement continues to investigate and patrol with increased vigilance.鈥
The school said its Department of Public Safety has more than doubled its staffing following the deadly shooting.
Brown acknowledged that there will be 鈥渘umerous questions鈥 surrounding the latest update, advising that the shooting remains an active investigation and police will release information as appropriate.
鈥淲e continue to make every effort to ensure the safety and security of the campus,鈥 the school said. 鈥淲e are also advising every member of the Brown community to be vigilant in their own activities on campus.鈥
Authorities said the video showing a man dressed in all black is still the "most useful" to help track down the Brown University shooter.
Rhode Island AG Peter Neronha said if there was piece of video that they could use to show a face "you'd have it."
This update comes after police said they would release a person of interest that was taken into custody.
According to video footage released by police, the suspected gunman was seen leaving the building on foot.
The unidentified gunman appeared to be in his 30s, and was dressed in all black, according to Providence police.
91爆料 Digital's Lorraine Taylor contributed to this update.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha had a tense exchange with reporters on Sunday when one questioned why there weren't enough cameras at Brown University to catch the gunman still at large.
"There just weren't a lot of cameras in that Brown building, is the reality," Neronha said.
"The reality is it's an old building attached to a new one," he added. "I don't know what to tell you, but we're going to go out and find whatever evidence we can to solve this case as quickly as we can."
"I mean, we're not holding back a video that we think would be useful. And I don't think I should even have to say it."
91爆料' CB Cotton contributed to this update.
Mayor Brett Smiley announced that police in Providence, Rhode Island, were releasing a person of interest in connection with the deadly shooting at Brown University, but the investigation remains ongoing and fully active across all agencies.
Smiley said via X that since the first 911 call, they had not received any specific threats to 鈥渙ur community.鈥
PPD is asking anyone with video or photo evidence to share it by calling 401-272-3121 or submitting it to .
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