A memorial outside Brown University’s Barus and Holley building is steadily growing, weeks after a gunman opened fire on a classroom of final-exam students.
The Growing Memorial
Mourners have been steadily dropping bouquets, candles and mementos to honor the two students killed in the shooting-Ella Cook and MukhammadAziz Umurzokov-and the other nine who were injured. The memorial, located just outside the university’s health center, has become a quiet place of remembrance for students, faculty and local families alike. Every day, new flowers and candles arrive, a testament to the community’s collective grief and resilience. The space is slowly turning into a living archive of the tragedy, with each item representing a story of loss and hope.
Comfort K-9s Bring Positivity
Comfort K-9s Bear, Bo and John spent some time at the memorial with their handlers, providing emotional support to those in need. “We’re just trying to spread some positivity,” said Newport officer Nick St. Lawrence, K-9 Bo’s handler. Officer Jay Bodell, K-9 Bear’s handler, and officer Stephanie Masalla, K-9 John’s handler, both traveled from Middletown and Meriden, Connecticut, respectively. For Bodell, who grew up in East Providence, “It feels like I am coming home to help.”
The trio of K-9s spent a couple of hours at Brown University’s Health and Wellness Center, comforting patients and staff before heading over to the memorial. “There have been a lot of students, staff and local families dropping flowers here,” Bodell said. Though the comfort K-9s’ presence “is not going to fix anything,” he added, it does offer comfort and support in the form of snuggles. “They can actually sense when someone is going through something,” Masella explained. “They can sense who might need some support and love.”
Bodell said everyone, from students and faculty to first responders, has had the same reaction to the K-9s. “They’re on the floor, playing tug-of-war, playing fetch with them,” he said. “It’s creating that distraction and taking their mind off of things.” He added, “It’s different to see that, especially walking the streets.” “There’s law enforcement everywhere, everybody has their job,” he continued. “Our job is to just go out there and interact with everyone, put them at ease and change their mindset.”
Bodell said it’s the brief sparks of joy his K-9 provides, even during the darkest of times, that “fills his cup.” “It never gets old hearing ‘this made my day,'” he said. “If we can do that here, then I think it’s worth every minute.”
Community Reaction
The memorial’s steady growth has drawn visitors from across the city, each leaving a small token of remembrance. Students have taken to the campus sidewalks, carrying flowers in their backpacks, while faculty members pause to light candles in quiet moments. Local families, many of whom have known the victims, have joined the stream of offerings, turning the space into a communal place of healing. The presence of the K-9s has added a layer of comfort that many say helps them cope with the painful memories.
Key Takeaways
- The memorial outside Brown University’s Barus and Holley building is growing with daily offerings from students, faculty, and families.
- Comfort K-9s Bear, Bo and John, along with their handlers, provide emotional support and distraction through play and snuggles.
- The community’s response shows a collective effort to heal, with visitors leaving flowers, candles, and mementos as acts of remembrance.
The memorial, the K-9s, and the community’s unwavering support paint a picture of resilience in the face of tragedy. As the campus continues to honor the victims, the presence of comfort dogs offers a small but powerful reminder that healing can begin with simple acts of kindness.
