Closing summary
We will now be closing this liveblog. Our latest report on this story is here:
Here is a quick summary of the latest:
A press conference by Providence officials showed new videos and photos of an individual believed to be connected to the shooting. Police said a 9mm firearm was used. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the case being solved.
On Sunday night, officials announced that they were releasing a person of interest that had been detained in connection with the shooting.
The Providence Police also said that since the first call to 911, they have “not received any specific threats to our community.”
One of the victims fatally shot has been identified as Ella Cook. She was identified as one of the victims during a church service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama, where the Reverend said she attended.
Both Alabama Senators paid tribute to Cook, as did Martin Bertao, the president of the College Republicans of America, who said that Cook was the vice-president of the Brown College Republicans
Another victim was named as MuhammadAziz Umurzakov, from Uzbekistan. Umurzokov was identified by his family in a Gofundme page. They described him as “incredibly kind, funny, and smart. He had big dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon and helping people. He continues to be my family’s biggest role model in all aspects.”
The US ambassador to Uzbekistan also paid tribute to Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, as did Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Virginia’s governor-elect Abigail Spanberger.
Brown University announced that it was temporarily delaying the release of admissions decisions for applicants who were meant to find out whether they had been admitted to the school on Monday.
The press conference is over, with police providing few but new updates to the investigation including new videos and photos of an individual believed to be connected to the shooting.
The videos show the individual walking alone and they do not appear to be carrying anything in their hands. The individual’s face is concealed and appears to have a light complexion.
Police also confirmed that a 9mm firearm was used while the FBI announced that a $50,000 reward was being offered for information leading to the case being solved.
“There’s no one that wants to put this individual in handcuffs [more] than us, so this has brought us to a new lead,” Providence police chief Oscar Perez said.
Speaking about the previous person of interest who was in polie custody before being released, Providence police chief Oscar Perez said:
“I have no control over what’s being released or circulated in the media … [What] we can control is what we give you here.”
Updated
A nine milimeter firearm was used in the attack, Providence police chief Oscar Perez said.
“It was several rounds and it was a small caliber, actually, nine millimeter firearm was used,” he said.
Providence mayor Brett Smiley said that ever since 4:05pm on Saturday – when the first call came in regarding the attack at Brown University, “there has been no new, credible specific threat anywhere in the Providence community.”
“The first step in what we’re trying to provide today, and which we did well with the assistance of our neighbors, and we’re grateful for is a noted, visible police presence to provide some confidence for families that are taking their kids to school, people who have to get to work to work a shift,” Smiley said.
FBI agent Ted Docks is now speaking, saying that the FBI has announced a reward of $50,000 for information that can “lead to the identification, the arrest and the conviction of the individual responsible, who we believe to be armed and dangerous.”
He added: “We are tracking down leads, canvassing neighborhoods and developing intelligence, and right now, our evidence response teams remain on campus, processing the scene, and folks from our lab, from Quantico, are documenting the trajectories of the bullets to reconstruct the scene.”
Perez is now showing a video of an individual dressed in dark clothing prior to the incident.
The video shows the individual walking alone and they do not appear to be carrying anything in their hands.
The individual’s face is concealed and appears to have a light complexion.
“We’re asking for the public’s assistance in … identifying this individual,” said Perez, urging the public to contact the tipline set up by law enforcement regarding the individual responsible for the shooting.
Updated
Providence police chief says new photos and videos of person of interest are being released
Providence police chief Oscar Perez is now speaking, saying that the investigation remains active.
“There’s no one that wants to put this individual in handcuffs [more] than us, so this has brought us to a new lead,” Perez said.
He added that he will elaborate on new photos and videos of a new person of interest shortly.
“Those photos and those videos were retrieved around 2pm on Saturday the 13th, and we believe that that’s the same individual that we showed you from the previous video that we released,” he continued.
Updated
Rhode Island governor Daniel McKee is currently speaking.
“I can tell you from the state level, we’re continuing to coordinate our state police and instructed the colonel to make sure that all the resources that are available are being a employed,” McKee said.
He added: “We are reassessing all safety issues in all our schools in the state of Rhode Island and more to come on that the issues to have to do with mental health.”
The Providence mayor and officials are set to hold a press conference shortly on the Brown University shooting.
Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates.
As of 5pm ET on Monday, the latest development in the investigation is the release of video footage of a fresh person of interest wanted in the attack that killed two students and injured nine others.
A widespread manhunt remains under way.
Updated
We are going to be taking a brief break in this blog while we await more updates, as authorities continue to search for the gunman who killed two students and injured nine others.
You can read our latest report here:
Here is a quick summary of the latest:
On Sunday night, officials said that the hunt for the gunman was continuing and announced that they were releasing a person of interest that had been detained in connection with the shooting.
The Providence Police also said that since the first call to 911, they have “not received any specific threats to our community.”
One of the victims fatally shot has been identified as Ella Cook. She was identified as one of the victims during a church service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama, where the Reverend said she attended.
Both Alabama Senators paid tribute to Cook, as did Martin Bertao, the president of the College Republicans of America, who said that Cook was the vice President of the Brown College Republicans
Another victim was named as MuhammadAziz Umurzakov, from Uzbekistan. Umurzokov was identified by his family in a Gofundme page. They described him as “incredibly kind, funny, and smart. He had big dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon and helping people. He continues to be my family’s biggest role model in all aspects.”
The US ambassador to Uzbekistan also paid tribute to Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, as did Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Virginia’s governor-elect Abigail Spanberger.
Brown University announced that it was temporarily delaying the release of admissions decisions for applicants who were meant to find out whether they had been admitted to the school today.
On Sunday, Brown University said that the school had cancelled “all remaining in-person exams” for Fall 2025 courses in the wake of the shooting.
FBI director, Kash Patel, said on Sunday that the FBI had activated its “cellular analysis survey team to provide critical geolocation capabilities” to aid with the investigation.
The University of Rhode Island said that it will not hold in person exams today.
As the investigation continues, authorities in Rhode Island have asked “anyone with relevant information, including video or photo evidence, to submit it by phone or through the FBI tip line”.
Updated
Michelle R Smith reporting from Providence, Rhode Island:
Tensions ran high in Providence on Monday near the Brown University campus, after authorities said they were still searching for a suspect and would release a person of interest they detained over the weekend.
In midmorning, sirens could be heard racing through the city’s East Side, where Brown is located. Police later said in a post on X that they responded to a call of shots fired at an apartment complex a few blocks from Brown’s campus. Police said the reports were unfounded: the loud noise came from a boiler backfire in the building. But they said they set up a perimeter around the area and cleared the building as a precaution.
Meanwhile, all Providence public schools were open with what the district told parents would be an increased safety presence, while many private schools in the neighborhood closed.
Foot and car traffic in the area around Brown was notably diminished from a typical Monday in early December, and a news helicopter circled the neighborhood all morning.
US Representative Seth Magaziner, a Democrat of Rhode Island, who is an alumni of Brown University, told MS NOW that people in Providence are feeling “shocked” “sad and upset”.
“The last couple of days, people have really been stepping up to look out for each other” Magaziner said. “Rhode Island’s a small state, providence is a small, tight-knit city. It’s a place where people help each other and grieve together. This is also a place where things like this do not happen often. “
“Prior to the terrible shooting at Brown, there had only been two homicides in the city of Providence all year, and so I think the mood here is that people are feeling shocked, people are sad and upset” the Congressman added. “But more than anything else, I think people are looking out for each other.”
Magaziner said that he spoke with the director of the Rhode Island Blood Center, who told him that Sunday was the busiest day the center had had “since 9/11” because “so many people had turned out to donate blood”.
Magaziner said now that authorities do not have anyone in custody, “everyone’s concerned and people are taking precautions, some schools in the area have been shut down, for example.”
He said that he knows that the authorities and police are going to “work around the clock as hard as they can for as long as it takes until they find this guy.’
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin said on social media that he was 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” he wrote. “We lift up their families, friends and communities in a prayer of comfort and peace.”
Virginia’s governor-elect Abigail Spanberger has also paid tribute to one of the two shooting victims, 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” Spanberger said on X. “Adam and I are praying for his family and all those impacted by this tragedy.”
On Sunday, Brown University President Christina Paxson said that in addition to the two students who were killed in the shooting, seven students were in critical but stable condition, one student remained in critical condition, and said that one student was treated on Saturday and released.
“Our prayers continue to be with them and their families” Paxson said on Sunday. “We have reached out to the families of all the hospitalized shooting victims and are offering any support we can. I have spoken to some of the families and expect to speak to others soon. Our hearts go out to all of them, and we stand ready to give them anything they need.”
Jack Reed, Democratic senator of Rhode Island, said that the shooting has “touched everyone in Rhode Island, particularly our law enforcement officers”. He added that the officers will “not rest until they have brought this individual to justice, and they are working overtime, triple time to get the job done”.
In an interview with CNN on Monday, Reed said that “as the mayor has indicated, he’s doing an excellent job, along with state officials and all of our law enforcement personnel, they have gathered a great deal of information.”
Reed said that authorities had thought that the evidence “pointed towards the individual they took into custody” but that then, “they were able, I think appropriately, to determine that was not accurate” he said. “But they are relentless.”
“I think we’ll get there,” he added, “but this is a disappointing setback. What they’ve done is determined that shelter in place is not necessary, but they’ve intensified police operations in the city, particularly around the campus.”
Updated
The mayor of Providence conceded on Monday that the release of the person of interest arrested a day earlier in connection with the Brown University shooting was a “setback”.
But Brett Smiley stressed the investigation had proceeded “at full speed” while the person was in custody, and repeated his belief that there was no threat to the community even while the gunman remained at large.
The Democrat was speaking on CNN, where he said investigators were “running down tips that have come in [and] leads that have been developed”.
Smiley said: “I want to be clear that while we certainly were focused on processing evidence for the person of interest who was detained, that didn’t mean that the other pieces of the investigation were stopped or in any way paused.
“Obviously we’re disappointed that the person needed to be released because of the evidence that had been examined, and it’s a setback, to be clear. Those frustrations, I’m sure, are being felt by more than just me.”
Smiley said the lack of a “credible or specific threat” since the shooting at about 4pm on Saturday assured him that there was no further threat to public safety.
He said several “false” calls were received, but “we believe it is safe and appropriate for residents in Providence to be sending their kids to school today, and to be out in the community”.
“The setback is not necessarily in terms of the investigation. Other aspects of the investigation remain at full speed,” he said.
He said it was “an emotional letdown” to release the person: “The 24 hours where we thought we had a person of interest that might lead to something more concrete… [it] turns out that we’ve got a lot more work to do.”
Authorities ask public for tips as manhunt for shooter continues
As the investigation continues, authorities in Rhode Island are asking “anyone with relevant information, including video or photo evidence, to submit it by phone or through the FBI tip line”.
Updated
Alabama senators have paid tribute to Ella Cook, one of the victims of the shooting, who was from Alabama.
“I am heartbroken to hear that Mountain Brook’s Ella Cook was among those killed over the weekend at Brown University” Senator Tommy Tuberville said. “Our hearts and our prayers are with the Cook family and everyone impacted by this senseless killing.”
In another post, Senator Katie Britt said that she joins the “Mountain Brook community and all of Alabama in mourning the heartbreaking loss of one of our own, Ella Cook, who was senselessly killed over the weekend on Brown University’s campus.”
“There are no words that can ease the pain Ella’s family and friends are enduring right now” she said.
Updated
The University of Rhode Island said that it will not hold in person exams today.
Online exams, the school said, will proceed as scheduled.
“Importantly, there is no known threat to our campuses” the university said. “This decision follows consideration of concerns shared by members of our community.”
Providence mayor says search for shooter continues after person of interest released
Providence mayor Brett Smiley appeared on Good Morning America this morning, and said that after authorities reviewed the evidence in the case, it was “determined that this person of interest needed to be released”.
“We continue with our investigation” Smiley said. “To be clear, we’ve never stopped our investigation. Providence police and our partners at the State Police, the FBI and others have continuously run down leads and worked this case beyond the person of interest who had been detained.”
“As you have seen many times, we do have a short small clip of video footage that we do believe is the person that we’re looking for” he said. “And right now we don’t have any evidence to suggest that it was more than that individual which has been seen in that video.”
The mayor said that there is currently enhanced police presence both on campus at Brown and throughout the city of Providence.
Updated
Ella Cook called 'an incredible light' in tributes after shooting
One of the victims killed in Saturday’s shooting has been identified as student Ella Cook, who was from Alabama.
Her name was announced during a church service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama, where the Reverend said she attended.
“Tragically, one of our parishioners, Ella Cook, was one of those who was killed yesterday,” Reverend Craig Smalley said during the service on Sunday, which was live streamed. “And those of you who knew her, those of you who know her, she was an incredible, grounded, faithful bright light.
“Not only here growing up here at the Advent in the myriad ways in which she served faithfully and the ways in which she encouraged and lift up those around her, but at Brown University she was an incredible light in that particular place,” Smalley said.
The New York Young Republican Club also put out a statement on Sunday expressing their “deepest condolences to the family of Ella Cook” who they said was “the Vice President of the College Republicans at Brown University.”
In another statement, Martin Bertao, the president of the College Republicans of America, said that “we are devastated to learn of the loss of our Brown College Republicans Vice President, Ella Cook.”
“Ella was known for her bold, brave, and kind heart as she served her chapter and her fellow classmates” they added.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reposted the College Republicans of America post, and wrote: “There are no words. Thinking of her family and friends, especially her parents. God please bless them.”
Updated
Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov remembered for 'sharp intellect, kind heart'
More tributes to Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov came from the American Uzbekistan Association, who said he “was known for his sharp intellect, kind heart, and quiet willingness to help anyone in need”.
The association wrote on Instagram, praising his “humility and compassion” as well as his “curiosity, discipline, and generosity”.
The statement added:
More than a gifted student, Aziz was a beloved son, brother, and friend. He had a future filled with promise, and his life was cut short far too soon. His passing has left an immeasurable void in the hearts of his family, friends, classmates, and the broader Uzbek American community.
On behalf of the American Uzbekistan Association, we extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Mukhammad Aziz’s family during this time of unimaginable grief. We stand with them in mourning and are grateful to all who have offered prayers, messages of support, and solidarity.
Mukhammad Aziz will be remembered for his kindness, his potential, and the light he brought into the lives of others. His memory will endure.
Updated
One of the nine people injured in the shooting was named as Kendall Turner in media reports.
The Raleigh News & Observers reported Turner, from Durham, North Carolina, was among those wounded in the mass shooting on Saturday.
“We were saddened to learn that Kendall Turner ‘25, a beloved Durham Academy alumna, was wounded in the mass shooting that occurred at Brown University yesterday,” the publication quotes Michael Ulku-Steiner, who leads the school, as saying. “Her family has informed us that she is currently in critical but stable condition and is receiving care at a local hospital. Her parents are with her. We hope for her continued strength and recovery.”
The US ambassador to Uzbekistan paid tribute to Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov.
In a statement, Jonathan Henick said: “I am deeply saddened by reports of the tragic death of Brown University student Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov on December 13. We extend our sincere condolences to Mr. Umurzokov’s family, friends, and fellow students and mourn the loss of his bright future.”
Updated
Shooting victims named in reports as Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook
The two people killed in Saturday’s shooting have been identified as Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook, according to reports.
Aspiring neurosurgeon Umurzokov was identified by his family in a Gofundme page. In a message on the site, they said: “He was incredibly kind, funny, and smart. He had big dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon and helping people. He continues to be my family’s biggest role model in all aspects.
“He always lent a helping hand to anyone in need without hesitation, and was the most kind-hearted person our family knew. Our family is incredibly devastated by this loss.”
The Gofundme appeal had raised nearly $230,000 by Monday morning.
The Providence Journal reports that Cook’s death was announced during a service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama, where she was reportedly a parishioner. The Rev Craig Smalley said in livestreamed remarks: “Many of you heard about the tragedy ... And sadly, tragically, one of those people is one of our parishioners.”
Smalley said Cook was a “bright light”, “incredibly grounded and generous and faithful”.
Updated
The FBI director, Kash Patel, said on Sunday that the FBI had activated its “cellular analysis survey team to provide critical geolocation capabilities” to aid with the investigation.
“We have deployed local and national resources to process and reconstruct the shooting scene - providing HQ and Lab elements on scene” he said, adding that the agency said also “set up a digital media intake portal to ingest images and video from the public” related to the shooting.
The FBI’s victim specialists are also “fully integrating with our partners to provide resources to victims and survivors of this horrific violence” he said. “This FBI will continue an all out 24/7 campaign until justice is fully served”.
Brown University cancels 'all remaining in-person exams' for the semester
On Sunday, Brown University said that the school has cancelled “all remaining in-person exams” for Fall 2025 courses in the wake of the shooting.
In a statement, the university’s provost said that “we must balance the importance of providing clear guidance on educational assessment with our responsibility to ensure the thriving of every member of our community.”
"We have decided to cancel all remaining in-person exams for Fall 2025 courses at all schools, with the exception of the Warren Alpert Medical School and the IE Brown Executive MBA program in the School of Professional Studies (SPS)" they added.
Updated
Brown University has told the university community that despite individual that was detained being released and as law enforcement continues to investigate, they do not “believe there is any immediate threat to Brown or the local community.”
In a statement on Sunday night, the university added that “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 school said that its Department of Public Safety has more than doubled its staffing, and that there “continues to be a heightened amount of local, state and federal police activity in the area”.
Updated
The Providence Police have said that investigation is ongoing and remains fully active between all agencies.
The police announced on Sunday night that the person of interest was being released and said that since the first call to 911, they have “not received any specific threats to our community.”
They asked that any and all video and photo evidence be submitted via phone or via the FBI tip line.
Brown University announced on Sunday that it was temporarily delaying the release of admissions decisions for applicants who were meant to find out today whether they had been admitted to the school.
“The Brown University community suffered an unthinkable tragedy on Saturday evening” the school said in a post. “We are faced with the reality of mourning the loss of members of our community taken from us from a terrible act of violence, even as we acknowledge that we’re on the eve of a very important day for our many talented applicants to Brown.”
The school added: “While we remain excited about the dedicated students eager to join Brown, we are prioritizing care and support for our community and anticipate a brief delay in the release of admission decisions. We are going to delay notifications for up to 48 hours and appreciate your patience and understanding as we grieve, heal, and begin to move forward together.”
'Person of interest' detained over Brown University shooting is to be released, officials say
The hunt for a gunman who killed two people and injured nine others at Brown University continued on Monday after authorities released their sole person of interest on Sunday.
The person in their 20s was released after the investigation ended up going in a “different direction”, according to the mayor of Providence, Brett Smiley.
“We have not yet solved this case, but I am confident we are going to do that in the near future,” Rhode Island attorney general Peter Neronha said, adding there was only a “quantum of evidence which justified detaining this person as a person of interest”.
The Providence police department said the investigation is “active and ongoing”, with local officers working with state police, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies.
A gunman – dressed in black – opened fire at the Ivy League university in Providence, Rhode Island, during final exams at one of America’s most prestigious colleges on Saturday.
Authorities are now searching for additional video evidence that could help them track down the suspect.
Brown University said in a statement that local police “have advised they do not believe there is any immediate threat to Brown or the local community.”
The identities of the two people killed have not yet been released, but the university has confirmed they were both students.
