The Shooting That Shocked Providence
The attack on Brown University Saturday killed two students and wounded nine, sending shockwaves through the campus and the city.
The incident occurred in an older classroom building on campus, a location that reportedly has fewer or no cameras. Brown University has 1,200 cameras overall, but the classroom where the shooting took place is not well monitored. The lack of surveillance has raised questions about campus security measures.
Police have released several videos from the day of the attack. The footage shows the suspect on streets just off campus, wearing a mask or with their head turned. Authorities say the videos match witness descriptions of the shooter.
Authorities are asking the public for tips, especially from anyone who might have video of the suspect casing the area in the week before the shooting. The request was made during a Wednesday news conference in Providence. Witnesses are urged to come forward with any information that could help identify the suspect.
Investigators describe the suspect as about 5 feet, 8 inches (173 centimeters) tall and stocky. The person is seen in the videos with a mask or with their head turned, making identification difficult. No definitive clues about the suspect’s identity have emerged yet.
“I believe that this is probably the most intense investigation going on right now in this nation,” Providence’s police chief, Col. Oscar Perez, said at the news conference. “He added that witness accounts of the shooter match the person in the videos.”
Brown University operates 1,200 cameras across campus, but the older classroom where the shooting occurred has fewer or no cameras. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha explained that the lack of surveillance in that building is a concern. He said investigators believe the shooter used a door that faces a residential street.
Attorney General Neronha said the absence of cameras in the classroom has complicated the investigation. He noted that the suspect likely used a door that faces a residential street to escape. The statement was part of the broader discussion about campus security.
President Donald Trump criticized the university on Truth Social, saying, “Why did Brown University have so few Security Cameras? There can be no excuse for that. In the modern age, it just doesn’t get worse!!!” He blamed the school for being unprepared. His post sparked additional scrutiny of campus safety.
The suspect’s physical description is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and stocky, according to investigators. No other distinguishing features have been confirmed. Authorities have not announced any progress toward identifying the individual.
Motive remains unclear, and Col. Perez said investigators have found no evidence that someone was specifically targeted. The shooting is still being treated as a random act of violence. No clear motive has been established.
Police have canvassed nearby neighborhoods and received hundreds of tips. The city has been actively seeking information from residents. Authorities are hoping that additional witnesses will come forward.
On Wednesday, Providence police released a new photo of a separate individual who they said was in proximity to the person of interest. The public was asked to help identify that person. The photo was part of the ongoing appeal for assistance.
Felipe Rodriguez, a retired NYPD detective sergeant and adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said it is very rare for authorities to make this kind of plea during a criminal investigation. “They are grasping at straws,” he said. Rodriguez added that the request reflects the difficulty of the case.
Neronha said it wouldn’t help the investigation to release video of fleeing students and other footage from the attack. He cautioned that such releases could compromise evidence. The statement was made during the same news conference.
Perez declined to say how many witnesses police had spoken to or how many people were in the classroom during the attack. He said his department is hoping more students with information will come forward. The police are continuing to investigate.
After the shooting, remaining classes and exams before winter break were canceled. Students who were present had to leave campus early. The cancellation was announced by university officials.
Meanwhile, Boston-area police are searching for the person who killed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor earlier this week. The MIT professor was attacked at home, and the FBI said it had no reason to think the two attacks were linked. The two investigations remain separate.
Brown said early-decision admission offers that were delayed after the shooting will be released Wednesday evening. The university is resuming admissions processing. The announcement was made by university officials.
The attack and shooter’s escape have raised questions about campus security. Brown has two security systems. One, activated in emergencies, sent out text messages, phone calls, and emails that reached 20,000 people. The other features three sirens across campus and was not activated Saturday.
Paxson said doing so would have caused people to rush into buildings, including where the shooter was. He explained that activating the sirens could have led to more chaos. Paxson noted that the sirens can be used when there is a shooter, but depends on circumstances such as location.
Katherine Schweit, retired FBI agent and mass shooting expert, said typically in these types of targeted, public attacks, shooters kill themselves or authorities kill them or arrest them where they attack. “The best they can do is what they do now, which is continue to press together all of the facts they have as fast as they can,” she said. She added that the best hope for solutions comes from the public.
Rodriguez said it’s clear shooters are learning from others who were caught. “Most of the time an active shooter is going to go in, and he’s going to try to commit what we call maximum carnage, maximum damage,” he said. “And at this point, they’re actually trying to get away. And they’re actually evading police with an effective methodology, which I haven’t seen before.”
Providence remained tense Wednesday. Additional police were at schools to reassure worried parents. Some afterschool activities and field trips were canceled.
Hundreds of residents have signed up for a city text alert service since the shooting, officials said. The service provides real-time updates on emergencies. The sign-ups reflect heightened community concern.
Brown cautioned people against accusing others online of having any link to the attack. Speculation led to a student’s identifying information being posted online, the university said. The university urged caution and responsible sharing.
About 200 people honored the victims Tuesday at a campus church service. The service was held at the university church. The ceremony was attended by students, faculty, and community members.
The shooter killed Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore from Alabama who was very involved in her church and served as vice president of the Brown College Republicans. He also killed MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old freshman from Virginia whose family immigrated to the U.S. from Uzbekistan and who hoped to go to medical school.
Mayor Brett Smiley said Wednesday that a third wounded student had been discharged, leaving five still hospitalized in stable condition and one in critical condition. The mayor provided an update on the medical status of the victims. The information was released to the public.
The investigation into the Brown University shooting continues as authorities seek additional evidence and witness statements. The city remains on high alert, and the university is working to restore safety and support for its community. The outcome of the investigation will shape future campus security policies.
