Brown University shooting manhunt resets with release of person of interest

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 “enhanced presence” in the city’s neighborhoods in the wake of the shooting.

He also reiterated officials’ calls for tips from the public.

The public can submit tips to police by calling (401) 272-3121 or via the FBI’s tipline.

File photo of Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov who is reportedly one of the victims in the mass shooting incident at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, December 13, 2025. (GoFundMe)

The second victim killed in the Brown University campus shooting has been identified as Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov. 

“I am heartbroken to learn that Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov — who just graduated from Midlothian High School — is among the victims of the horrific act of violence at Brown University,” Virginia Governor-elect Abigail Spanger wrote on X. “Adam and I are praying for his family and all those impacted by this tragedy.” 

Umurzokov’s family wrote in a GoFundMe post that he “had big dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon and helping people.” 

“He always lent a helping hand to anyone in need without hesitation, and was the most kind-hearted person our family knew,” the post read. “Our family is incredibly devastated by this loss.” 

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. 

“We are praying for the victims of the horrendous act of evil at Brown University: Ella Cook from Birmingham, Alabama, and Midlothian High School’s own Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov,” the governor wrote. “We lift up their families, friends and communities in a prayer of comfort and peace.”

People place flowers at a makeshift memorial, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, on the campus of Brown University, not far from where a shooting took place on Saturday, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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 Fox News in a statement that Turner’s family informed them that she is receiving care at a local hospital. 

“We were deeply saddened to learn that Kendall Turner ‘25, a beloved Durham Academy alumna, was wounded in the mass shooting that occurred at Brown University,” the statement said. “Her family has informed us that she is currently in critical but stable condition and is receiving care at a local hospital.” 

It continued: “Her parents are with her. We hope for her continued strength and recovery.” 

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. 

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Kendall, her family, and all members of the Brown University community during this incredibly difficult time,” Durham Academy said. “Our 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.” 

Fox News’ CB Cotton contributed to this report.

A map showing the Barus and Holley Building at Brown University, where a gunman killed two and wounded nine Saturday, as well as the intersection where a dark-clad person of interest was seen on surveillance video. (Google Maps; Fox News Digital)

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 “Fox & Friends First” that the detention and subsequent release of a person of interest in the Brown University shooting is how investigations work in the “real world.”

Parker said that while the release of the person of interest is “obviously not very good for this investigation,” it “does happen.”

“This is how investigations in the real world work," Parker said. "We’re used to watching television shows, movies where it’s solved within 60 minutes, and that’s not always the case.”

Parker said that the investigation remains “an all hands on deck” situation for authorities as they continue to hunt the gunman.

“They’ve got to go back to the drawing board,” she said of the investigators.

Parker said that as an investigator, it’s 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 “tremendous bright light” for all who interacted with her.

Cook is survived by her parents and two siblings.

A bouquet of flowers rests on snow, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, on the campus of Brown University not far from where a shooting took place, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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. 

“As 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,” the message read, in part. “There 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.” 

The school said its Department of Public Safety has more than doubled its staffing following the deadly shooting. 

Brown acknowledged that there will be “numerous questions” surrounding the latest update, advising that the shooting remains an active investigation and police will release information as appropriate. 

“We continue to make every effort to ensure the safety and security of the campus,” the school said. “We are also advising every member of the Brown community to be vigilant in their own activities on campus.”

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.

Fox News Digital's Lorraine Taylor contributed to this update.

Credit: Andrea Margolis / Fox News Digital

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."

Fox News' CB Cotton contributed to this update.

A police vehicle is parked at an intersection near crime scene tape at Brown University, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Providence, R.I., following a Saturday shooting at the university. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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 “our community.”

PPD is asking anyone with video or photo evidence to share it by calling 401-272-3121 or submitting it to the FBI tip line.