Manhunt after Brown University shooting

Providence police released new video footage of a person of interest in the Brown University shooting that killed two people, urging residents in nearby neighborhoods to review home security and vehicle camera footage.

A manhunt continued after a gunman opened fire inside a Brown University classroom, killing two students and wounding several others, leaving the campus and surrounding neighborhood tense. Authorities released stitched surveillance footage showing a masked man in dark clothing walking and running through nearby streets roughly an hour before the attack; the shooting occurred at 4:03 p.m. Investigators briefly detained a man in his 20s but later released him. The FBI has offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the suspect’s identification, arrest and conviction.

The two students killed were identified as Ella Cook, a sophomore from Mountain Brook, Alabama, and freshman Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, born in Uzbekistan and raised in Virginia. At least seven others were reported injured; some accounts put the number of wounded higher. The university, one of the oldest in the United States with nearly 11,000 students, canceled exams and classes for the remainder of the term and suspended activities while campus, city police and the FBI led the investigation.

Witnesses described chaotic scenes as students sheltered during a lockdown, some preparing makeshift defenses in basements and others huddling with classmates. A candlelight vigil drew the community together to grieve, remember the victims and demand answers.

Authorities mounted a large emergency response, securing buildings, diverting traffic and searching nearby streets. Hospitals treated wounded students for gunshot and related injuries, though officials have not released detailed medical updates. Police have been tight-lipped about investigative details, citing the sensitive nature of the probe, and have not confirmed whether the suspect had any direct ties to the university.

The shooting renewed broader debates over gun violence and campus security in the United States, highlighting how such incidents shatter perceived distance from nationwide waves of mass shootings. As investigators follow leads and review surveillance, authorities said they will issue further briefings to clarify what happened, identify the perpetrator and outline any additional security steps. The community has vowed to press for answers as the search for the shooter continues.