United States authorities are carrying out a large-scale operation to locate the suspect in a shooting that occurred on the campus of Brown University, in Providence, in the state of Rhode Island, which left two people dead and nine injured on Saturday (13). The attack took place in the Barus & Holley Engineering building, during a period of intense movement of students preparing for the final exams of the semester.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced a reward of up to US$50,000, the equivalent of around R$270,000, for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the shooter. In a statement, the FBI said: “The suspect who remains at large should be considered armed and dangerous. We ask that anyone with information immediately provide that information through official channels.”
According to Providence police, the shooting occurred around 4:05 pm (local time), causing panic on campus, with students and employees seeking shelter while emergency teams were called. “It was a moment of absolute terror,” said a student who did not want to be identified, highlighting the atmosphere of shock throughout the academic community. “We were studying for exams, and suddenly we heard gunshots and people running for cover.”
The two fatal victims were identified by authorities as Ella Cook, 19, vice president of the Brown College Republicans and a native of Birmingham, Alabama, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, a native of Virginia and a biology and neuroscience student. Authorities said the nine injured were taken to area hospitals, some in serious condition, and are receiving medical treatment.
Camera images and investigation challenges
As the investigation progressed, authorities released security camera footage showing an individual of interest circulating in the vicinity of the campus shortly before the attack. Providence Police Chief, Colonel Oscar Perez, stated at a press conference that “every piece of visual information is valuable, but we are dealing with images that do not always allow us to accurately identify the individual’s facial features.”
Despite the release of the videos, Perez acknowledged the difficulties: “We know these images may not be clear enough for definitive identification. We ask the community to review their own files and provide us with any recordings that may help.” The FBI has also asked residents and businesses to share recordings from private cameras in an attempt to trace the suspect’s movements before and after the attack.
Initially, a man was detained as a person of interest on Sunday (14), but was released due to a lack of sufficient evidence linking him to the crime. Authorities have made it clear that he is not considered a suspect at this time.
Civil security experts interviewed by American vehicles point out that, in dense urban areas like Providence, the large amount of recordings can “both help and overload analysis teams”. “The challenge is not just having images, but cross-referencing them effectively without falling into false leads that delay the investigation,” a security analyst told the US press.
University response and support for victims
In response to the attack, Brown University suspended in-person activities, canceled exams and reinforced security on campus, with increased police presence in academic and residential areas. The institution also announced that it is offering psychological support and emergency assistance to students, teachers and staff affected by the episode.
The governor of Rhode Island said that state and federal agents are working in a coordinated manner to capture whoever was responsible for the shooting and ensure the safety of the academic community. “We will not rest until the person responsible for this tragedy is arrested,” said the governor in an official statement, highlighting that any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to advancing the investigation.
