The two Brown University students killed in a shooting on the Providence, Rhode Island, campus have been identified as 18-year-old MukhammadAziz Umurzokov and 19-year-old Ella Cook, according to family members and officials.
Umurzokov’s sister, Samira, confirmed his death in a post on a GoFundMe page, describing him as kind, humorous, and intelligent, with aspirations of becoming a neurosurgeon to help others. She said his loss has left a profound impact on their family, calling him their greatest role model.
His death has also deeply affected the Uzbek American community. In a tribute, the American Uzbekistan Association said Umurzokov had a promising future that was cut short, leaving an immeasurable void among his loved ones, classmates, and the wider community.
Cook, a sophomore from Birmingham, Alabama, was remembered by Alabama Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth as a devoted Christian and committed conservative whose life ended far too soon. She served as vice president of the Brown College Republicans, and Martin Bertao, president of the College Republicans of America, described her as courageous, compassionate, and kind-hearted.
The gunman responsible for the attack remains at large two days after opening fire inside an academic building, killing the two students and injuring nine others.
The shooting has shaken the Ivy League campus, coming just days before students and faculty were set to leave for winter break. Authorities confirmed Sunday evening that a 24-year-old man who had been detained as a person of interest was released, leaving investigators without a known suspect.
“We have a murderer out there,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said during a late Sunday news conference. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said the development was likely to heighten anxiety within the community.
Neronha explained that while some evidence initially pointed to the detained individual, new information shifted the direction of the investigation. “Sometimes you have to regroup and move in another direction,” he said.
Condolences poured in from across the country, including from President Donald Trump, who expressed sympathy for the victims and their families. He also wished the injured a swift recovery.
Brown University President Christina Paxson said seven of the injured were in critical but stable condition, one remained in critical condition, and another victim was treated and discharged.
The shooting occurred around 4 p.m. ET at the Barus & Holley engineering and physics building during an economics class, as students were sitting for final exams. Paxson described the tragedy as devastating but emphasized the resilience of the university community.
Investigators had earlier said they were searching for a suspect described as a man dressed in black who fled the scene on foot. University Provost Francis Doyle noted that access to the building requires card entry but acknowledged increased foot traffic during exam periods.
Police also released a brief video of a person of interest walking away from the scene, though the individual’s face was not visible.
In response to the tragedy, Brown University canceled most remaining in-person exams for the fall semester to focus on providing support to students, faculty, and staff. Authorities lifted a shelter-in-place order for the campus and surrounding areas on Sunday morning.
