Manhunt Intensifies for Brown University Shooting Suspect After Person of Interest Released
Providence, Rhode Island — The search for the gunman responsible for the deadliest mass shooting in Rhode Island history continues as authorities released a person of interest and released new surveillance footage of the suspect.[1][2]
Tragic Attack During Final Exams
On December 13, 2025, at approximately 4:05 p.m. EST, a lone gunman entered the Brown University School of Engineering’s Barus and Holley Building and opened fire during a review session for an introductory economics final exam.[1] The session, led by 21-year-old teaching assistant Joseph Oduro in Room 166, was attended by students preparing for Professor Rachel Friedberg’s class on the second day of the fall semester’s final examination week.[1]
The shooter fired more than 40 rounds from a 9mm handgun, killing two Brown University students and wounding nine others.[1][2] All victims were students at the Ivy League institution. The attack prompted an immediate lockdown, with students barricading themselves in rooms or hiding behind furniture and bookshelves as gunfire echoed through the campus.[2]
Victims Identified
The fatalities were identified as Ella Cook, vice president of Brown’s College Republicans and a parishioner at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a recent graduate of Midlothian High School in Chesterfield County, Virginia, who immigrated from Uzbekistan as a child.[1]
Survivors, including chemical engineering student Emma Ferraro, described the chaos. Ferraro was in the lobby working on a final project when she heard “loud pops,” realized they were gunshots, and fled to a nearby building.[2] Brown University canceled all remaining classes, exams, papers, and projects for the semester, allowing students to leave campus amid the disruption.[2]
Suspect Description and Evidence
Authorities have released images and videos showing the suspect, described as a male approximately 5’8″ tall with a stocky build, dressed in dark clothing.[1][3] Surveillance footage captured him walking with a “very distinctive” fast gait near Hope, Benevolent, Cooke, and Manning streets about two hours before the shooting, and running in quiet residential areas over an hour prior.[3][4]
Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez confirmed the use of a 9mm firearm.[1] On December 15, police released additional videos, and the FBI announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s identification, arrest, and conviction.[1][3] As of December 16, no suspect had been identified or apprehended.[1]
Person of Interest Detained and Released
Early in the investigation, a 24-year-old man from Wisconsin was detained as a person of interest on December 14.[2] Authorities recovered two handguns and two loaded 30-round magazines from him; one firearm had a laser sight.[2] However, he was released after further review, with Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha noting the need to “regroup and go in another direction.”[2]
FBI and local police are leading a massive manhunt, combing the campus and surrounding areas, including Waterman Street and Hope Street.[3] Investigators have set up crime scene tape and continue to analyze evidence.
Campus and Community Response
The Brown University community is grappling with profound grief and fear. Memorials with flowers have sprouted across campus, as students like senior Lila Rizvi expressed, “There’s no way to comprehend what’s happened here.”[3] Freshman Fernando Jimenez voiced frustration over the ongoing search: “It’s pretty absurd they haven’t caught the guy.”[3]
Community services are planned, including one at 7 p.m. on December 16 at S. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, open to all for reflection and support.[3] Sara Schultz, helping organize the event, emphasized its importance for the Brown community: “It’s important to get together.”[3]
The shooting marks the worst in Rhode Island history, shattering the sense of safety during a high-stress exam period. Engineering design exams were underway in badge-access rooms, but outer doors were unlocked, raising questions about security protocols.[2]
Ongoing Investigation
With the suspect still at large, tension remains high. Police and federal agents are urging the public to come forward with tips, highlighting the distinctive gait and build in released footage.[1][3] Brown University, located on Providence’s East Side, has become a focal point of national attention as the manhunt presses on.
Authorities stress that the investigation is active and fluid. Updates will follow as new information emerges. Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI tip line.