On a cold December weekend, the tranquil campus of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, was shattered by a sudden act of violence that has left the community reeling and authorities scrambling for answers. On Saturday, December 14, 2025, a gunman opened fire in an auditorium-style classroom, killing two students and injuring nine others. As investigators race to identify and apprehend the suspect, questions about campus security, law enforcement response, and the emotional aftermath for students swirl through the Ivy League institution and beyond.
Authorities have released three new surveillance videos and several still images showing the suspect before and after the attack. According to the FBI, the man is approximately 5 feet, 8 inches tall with a stocky build. In the footage, he is dressed in dark clothing, a mask, and a beanie, and his face is never visible. One detail that stands out is his distinctive gait—he appears to favor his left leg slightly, a characteristic that could help someone recognize him. "He kind of walks the same way when he’s on the sidewalk or crossing the street, and he appears to favor his left leg just slightly, not so much that it would be indicative of any sort of permanent disability, but maybe the remnant of an old surgery or a knee injury or something like that," former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe told CNN. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the person responsible.
The search for the suspect has been intense. On Monday, December 15, law enforcement officers knocked on doors and canvassed neighborhoods near the university, searching for any video or evidence that might provide a breakthrough. U.S. marshals asked residents if they had security cameras, and the FBI sent additional resources to help track down leads and process evidence. "Anything Rhode Island authorities need from this FBI, we will be there," said Director Kash Patel in a statement posted on X.
The investigation has not been without setbacks. On Sunday, December 15, authorities detained a person of interest and briefly lifted the campus lockdown, only to release him later that day after determining the evidence pointed elsewhere. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha confirmed the release and expressed optimism about the ongoing investigation. "I would describe today’s work as making steady progress to identifying the person that we saw in the video that was released yesterday," Neronha said during a news conference. "And the sooner we can identify that person, the sooner we can, I think, blow this case open." He emphasized the complexity of the investigation, noting, "What’s critical here is that we reconstruct … this man’s movements, both before and afterwards."
For students and staff at Brown, the shooting has upended daily life. The university canceled classes and exams in the immediate aftermath, and the campus remains on edge. Annie Johnson, a student at Brown, told CNN’s Anderson Cooper that her sense of security was "completely destroyed" after news broke that the initial person of interest had been released. "Being in the airport to fly home was a really weird experience as I was surrounded by people who may have read about the university shooting on their phones and likely didn’t understand what it was like to live through it," she said. The shooting occurred during final exams, a time already fraught with stress for students.
Among those killed were Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore and vice president of the Brown College Republicans, and MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old freshman majoring in biochemistry and neuroscience. Cook was remembered by her pastor in Birmingham, Alabama, as "an incredible grounded, faithful, bright light" who encouraged and lifted up those around her. Martin Bertao, president of the Brown College Republicans, wrote on X, "Ella was known for her bold, brave, and kind heart as she served her chapter and her fellow classmates." Umurzokov, who immigrated from Uzbekistan as a child and overcame significant health challenges, was helping a friend at a review session for an economics final when he was shot. "He had so many hardships in his life, and he got into this amazing school and tried so hard to follow through with the promise he made when he was 7 years old," his sister told the Associated Press.
Of the nine wounded, only one had been released from the hospital as of Sunday, with one in critical condition and seven in critical but stable condition. Durham Academy in North Carolina confirmed that recent graduate Kendall Turner was among those critically wounded. Another student, Spencer Yang of New York City, recounted to both the New York Times and the Brown Daily Herald how he was shot in the leg during the chaos and tried to keep more seriously injured classmates conscious until help arrived. Yang expects to be discharged in the coming days.
The incident has sparked a debate over campus security and surveillance. Some students and residents voiced frustration over what they saw as a lack of preparedness and communication. "The fact that we’re in such a surveillance state but that wasn’t used correctly at all is just so deeply frustrating," said Li Ding, a Rhode Island School of Design student who participates in activities at Brown. Katherine Baima, who lives near the campus, noted, "This is the first time any of us in my building, as far as I know, had heard from anyone. We hadn’t gotten alerts and we were really surprised that there hadn’t been anyone searching, let alone knocking on doors, on the first night."
Authorities have stressed that the shooting was a targeted attack on Brown University. "What I can tell you is that this individual definitely targeted Brown University, because clearly we’re here speaking about that," said Providence Police Chief Oscar L. Perez, Jr. At the same time, officials have tried to reassure the public about safety. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley declared, "The city remains very safe," and said there would be an increased police presence at Brown University and surrounding areas. Yale University and other nearby colleges have also ramped up security, especially for upcoming Hanukkah celebrations.
Amid the ongoing investigation, officials have cautioned against speculation and misinformation. Rhode Island Rep. Seth Magaziner warned the public not to pay attention to online theories about the suspect’s identity or motive. "Unless there is official notification or official guidance, we shouldn’t be guessing or making assumptions about what the motive might have been or who the shooter might be," Magaziner told CNN’s Jake Tapper.
Law enforcement continues to work around the clock, following up on leads and piecing together the suspect’s movements before and after the shooting. The FBI’s Evidence Response Team remains on campus, meticulously documenting bullet trajectories and processing the scene. "It’s painstaking work. We are asking the public to be patient as we continue to run down every lead so we can get victims, survivors and their families and all of you the answers you deserve," said Special Agent Ted Docks of the Boston field office.
As Providence and the Brown University community wait for answers, the impact of Saturday’s tragedy continues to ripple outward. Students, faculty, and families are left grappling with grief and uncertainty, even as authorities pledge to bring the perpetrator to justice. The hunt for the shooter presses on, with the hope that the next lead will finally bring closure to a shaken campus and city.
