Brown University Shooter Manhunt Intensifies Amid Security Questions/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Authorities continue searching for the masked gunman who killed two and injured nine at Brown University. As new videos surface, concerns mount over campus security failures and investigative delays. Families mourn the victims while students question safety measures during finals week.
Brown University Shooting: Quick Looks
- Gunman remains at large after killing 2, injuring 9 on Brown campus.
- FBI released new masked footage, suspect still unidentified.
- $50,000 reward offered for leads in the case.
- Victims include Ella Cook, a sophomore from Alabama, and MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, a freshman from Uzbekistan.
- At least one critically wounded student has been identified as Kendall Turner.
- Survivors describe chaotic moments during attack in study hall.
- Campus lockdown lifted but criticism grows over lack of immediate alerts.
- Questions raised about how the shooter accessed the building undetected.
- Brown and other Ivy League schools increase security post-attack.
- Police are canvassing neighborhoods and collecting surveillance footage.
Deep Look
Brown University Gunman Still at Large as Security Concerns Grow
The search continues for the masked gunman responsible for a tragic shooting at Brown University that left two students dead and nine others injured, rattling the Ivy League campus during final exams and raising urgent concerns about security and emergency preparedness.
On Monday, local and federal law enforcement intensified their efforts, releasing three new video clips of the suspected shooter. The footage shows a person of stocky build, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, wearing a dark, two-tone jacket and a mask that obscures their face. Though captured two hours before and shortly after the shooting, the suspect remains unidentified.
The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the gunman’s arrest and conviction. Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez urged the public to study the videos carefully and report any relevant tips.
“We need the community’s help,” Perez said in a news conference. “Someone out there knows who this is.”
Shift in Investigation Adds to Tensions
Authorities initially detained a person of interest, leading to a temporary lifting of the campus lockdown. However, that individual was later released after police determined the evidence pointed elsewhere. The sudden shift sparked frustration and anxiety among students and families, as concerns mounted that the real shooter may have escaped during that period.
Colin Moussette, a prospective Brown student visiting campus, voiced his unease: “How someone got away — in the middle of the day — is not only heartbreaking but very concerning. How they accessed the building in the first place is even more troubling.”
Sparse Surveillance and Delayed Response Questioned
Criticism has also emerged regarding the school’s handling of campus surveillance and its immediate response to the attack. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha acknowledged that the area where the shooting occurred lacked sufficient camera coverage. Many students and nearby residents were also surprised to learn that door-to-door searches and neighborhood canvassing did not begin until days after the shooting.
“I was relieved to finally see them canvassing,” said Katherine Baima, a local resident. “But it’s shocking that no one knocked on our doors the night of the shooting.”
Officers were seen combing snow-covered yards for evidence while U.S. Marshals went door to door asking for security footage from local residents.
Victims Identified: Bright Futures Cut Short
The shooting occurred in a first-floor auditorium-style classroom where students were gathered to study for final exams.
Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore and vice president of the Brown College Republicans, was one of the victims. She was remembered by her Birmingham, Alabama community and church as a “bright light” with a bold and compassionate spirit.
“She lifted up those around her,” said the Rev. R. Craig Smalley, who spoke of Cook’s strong faith and dedication to service.
The second fatality was 18-year-old freshman MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, a biochemistry and neuroscience major who immigrated from Uzbekistan with his family. He had battled early health issues including a neurological condition and scoliosis but overcame them to attend Brown — fulfilling a childhood promise to succeed academically.
“He worked so hard for this opportunity,” his sister, Samira Umurzokova, told the Associated Press.
Survivors Recount Harrowing Moments
Of the nine injured, one student had been discharged by Sunday. Eight others remained hospitalized, with one in critical condition. Brown President Christina Paxson and Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed that none of their conditions had worsened as of Monday night.
Among the wounded is Kendall Turner, a recent graduate of Durham Academy in North Carolina, who remains in critical condition. Her parents have joined her in Rhode Island, and the school community has rallied around her.
Freshman Spencer Yang, 18, recounted from his hospital bed the terrifying moments as the shooter entered the room. He said chaos erupted as students fled, and he was shot in the leg while crouched between seats. Yang said he tried to keep more seriously injured classmates awake and talking until help arrived.
Campus Security Under Intense Scrutiny
While Brown University lifted its lockdown and resumed classes, the broader Ivy League community responded by tightening security. Yale, among others, added protection for upcoming Hanukkah events and student gatherings.
Despite the increased presence, the campus community expressed frustration about what many saw as a systemic failure to prevent or properly respond to the attack.
“I’m upset that we live in such a surveillance-heavy society, and yet it failed us when it mattered most,” said Li Ding, a student at Rhode Island School of Design who participates in a Brown-affiliated dance team.
Investigators are still working to determine how the gunman gained access to the building and whether he had any connection to the school.
As the manhunt continues, Brown University faces increasing calls to reexamine its safety protocols and transparency in crisis situations — while the campus mourns and students try to carry on amid uncertainty.
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