UPDATED: Brown University Shooting – Ongoing Reports – Dec. 17, 2025

UPDATES are provided here with the most recent first. This is day 5.

UPDATE – December 17, 2025:

No new word came until the 5pm news conference, albeit with “X” on fire with theories. Local news is frustrated by the lack of progress and transparency – as are national news outlets, where the Brown University shooting remains at the lede in all newscasts.

During the day, “X” was active with what became known as the identification of a person of interest – if not more – in a student/staff member at Brown. With no response from the Providence Police or the FBI, soon the sharing of this information revealed his name, photos, and various pages on the Brown University website identifying his position and activities. By later in the afternoon, Brown University began to take down references to this person, with “Page Not Found” greeting those who were searching for more.

Photos appeared – a similar “stocky build” – a stance holding his hands behind his back – even a cross-body bag, similar to what has been shown in later photos.

At the 5pm press conference:  After a reiteration of all that is not known, and a showing of photos and video that are strikingly similar in what they do not disclose such as his face or other identification, a member of the news media asked the question, even naming the Brown person to which denials came from all speakers. A question was posed to President Paxson who said this was the first she was hearing about and knew nothing about the website being “scrubbed”. That comment would lead some of the national and local news.  It was followed by similar comments that they knew nothing.  President Paxson referred the media to the college’s communications staff.

We asked the question to Brown communications staff:  We inquired at the end of the press conference why the pages were scrubbed and why the President could not know anything about it. This is the statement they supplied very late in the night:

From Brown University Media Relations, 6:40pm:

Video of the full press update from 12-16, here, courtesy WMUR:

Key points in video:

* AG Neronha says the investigation is “going really well”

* Gov says he and other Gov’s want to start a safety group to talk about hardening schools like Brown

* Brown President says she that Brown is deeply committed to safety and “deeply saddened to see some questioning that” – the shooter is responsible, and “terrific gun violence” – also says text message alert system was activated immediately to 20K – there is a siren system for disasters which would ask people to rush into buildings (floods? hurricanes?)

* Brown published their camera surveillance map – unheard of among security people – we will not publish it here.

* The shooter was seen on video as early as 10am that day – people are being asked to go back a week in their cameras to see what they can find

* There are videos from inside the building that have not been released because it would serve no purpose – just shows chaos of students

* Some businesses claim no one came to talk to them until yesterday – AG Neronha says they are working a grid from closest to shooting, out

* Lots of criticism for a school with an $8M endowment does not have cameras in all parts of the building – in this case the cameras were not in the older part, which is where the shooting happened

* Brown has 1200 cameras – AG Neronha explained the building is on the very edge of campus – also, Brown cameras were not linked up to Providence Police surveillance real-time anti-crime system

* Prov. police says they are still conducting interviews of students who were in the classroom – said that they had conducted “several”

* Providence Police have jurisdiction in the investigation – not the FBI, though they are assisting

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The Brown Daily Herald, student newspaper, provides a timeline of the first two days: This includes the first image of a classroom in the building:

https://projects.browndailyherald.com/2025/12/16/timeline/ 

Providence businesses are saying that their businesses are a “ghost-town” and they hope for a quick resolution

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UPDATE – December 16, 2025 – am:

Yesterday, a surreal scene took place in and around the East Side of Providence. Providence Police, FBI ATF, and additional departments local and national looked in bushes, walked in grid pattern searches, went through dumpsters, knocked on doors – and took phone tips.

After releasing the man who had been held for the atrocious shooting in the Brown University classroom that killed two students and wounded more, it was time to start again.

Closings and cancellations.

Private schools in the area shuttered.

Events canceled in the area – and beyond.

CCRI moved to virtual.

URI – in-person exams have been canceled.

BRYANT College has moved exams to virtual.

PROVIDENCE COLLEGE has also canceled all in-person final exams for the week, as well as in-person study sessions.

ROGER WILLIAMS UNIV will continue as scheduled today in order to get students home as quickly and safely as possible – added security throughout campus.

A Hanukkah celebration in Pawtucket canceled.

The RI State House holiday celebration, planned for tonight, canceled.

The Warwick Mall was evacuated, searched and then reopened.

Mayor Smiley said Providence schools will be kept open, with added security, but “do what’s right for your family” – the district district canceled after-school activities, including sports.

Pawtucket said they would also be adding security at high profile venues. Also be canceling after-school activities.

Cranston East and Central both canceled basketball games out of an abundance of caution.

A press conference was held at the end of the day which grew contentious not only about the wrong assailant, but about the lack of film footage – blamed on lack of security cameras at Brown University. More than once the fact that the engineering building was old and not as equipped as newer buildings – though many facilities that are owned or used by Brown are historic.

A national reporter noted that Brown has an endowment in the single numbered billions. Notably there was no representation from Brown at the afternoon press event – though the university opened a press center for local and national media from 7am to 10pm.

Questions to disclose what the shooter shouted went unanswered.

Providence Police:

The Providence Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying a person of interest in connection with Saturday’s shooting. Investigators have released three videos and two photographs depicting the individual. Anyone with information is urged to submit tips at fbi.gov/brownuniversityshooting or contact the Providence Police tip line at 401-272-3121.

https://x.com/ProvidenceRIPD/status/2000701550864326687?s=20

PHOTOS: 

This photo was posted by a national TV network – it appears to be blue nitrile gloves sticking out of the pocket.

Another larger image:

And the one with the most detail where a black jacket can now be seen as different than that. The small black rectangle and vertical line is from the photo image, and not on jacket. He appears to be wearing a surgical mask under a black mask.

The VIDEO:  This video believed taken the day before the shooting on Benevolent.

The Providence Police posted this on their X account: “Please be advised that the PPD has an enhanced presence in Providence neighborhoods. As part of the investigation, police are going businesses and residences to request available camera footage.”

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Governor McKee issues statement:

There will be a 7pm service at St. Stephen’s Church on the East Side tonight – will be open to the public as a time of remembrance with music and readings.

RI Blood Center had a huge response to their request for blood donors with 6-800 on a day with usually less than 100 – there is a blood drive set for next Mon, 12/22 from 8am to 7pm at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick. This blood will replenish supplies used to care for shooting victims at Rhode Island Hospital.

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TIPS: Providence Police – 401.652.5767. FBI: FBI.gov/brownuniversityshooting

12/15: The two deceased Brown students were identified:

Ella Cook, a Brown student and a parishioner at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama was identified by her church. Cook was active with her church. She was 19 and VP of the Young Republican Club on campus. Her minister said Cook was, “…a tremendous and bright light in there at Brown University as well, in the time that she was there, was such a light and such a witness.”

The second deceased was Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a Brown University freshman from Virgnia. His father said, “He had big dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon and helping people. A student from Uzbekistan, his death was announced by the Foreign Ministry, and referenced his family in Uzbekistan.

12/14: 11pm: Person of interest, who had been identified by multiple media outlets, along with a synopsis of his background as a member of the elite US military from Wisconsin with a history of mental illness, was announced as being released at a 11pm news conference led by Mayor Smiley. Attorney General Peter Neronha had a primary role at the conference, explaining that there was not evidence to charge him or hold him. Mayor Smiley announced that this will cause anxiety in the community. Notably, no one from Brown University or from the FBI participated in this conference.  View the press conference, below:

• Some national news commentators said their sources indicated there had been friction between the Providence Police and the FBI. The media at the 11pm news conference bombarded the officials with questions and national news broke in with an update.
• There is no shelter-in-place order for the Brown community. The investigation continues. The suspected gunman remains at large.
• AG Neronha said, “we have a murderer out there”.
• Brown posted a statement: “…the University must defer to the Providence Police Department to release information as they deem appropriate” – “We are also advising every member of the Brown community to be vigilant in their own activities on campus.”

5pm: A menorah lighting and Christmas tree lighting event were held at Lippitt Park to which hundreds attended, including national media. The event was a coming together of the community. At that time it was assumed the assailant was with the police.

NOON: Providence Police Chief Perez issued a statement, “We are working with what we have, and obviously, we have somebody that’s at the police station, a person of interest, and we are going to continue to build that case in order to be able to charge that person,” Col. Oscar Perez, chief of the Providence police, said at a noon news conference.

• RI AG Neronha interrupted Col. Perez to tell him the words “in custody” were not the right words to use, as a reporter had used.
• The exam hall monitor who was at the top of the classroom when the gunman came in said, “the gun was so long and so big I thought this was the end – for me”. He shot as soon as he came into the room. Watch an ABC national report – HERE.

12/14:  Person of interest at 3:45AM at Hampton Inn in Coventry, RI, after tip from a gun store owner who reported a person had tried to buy a gun from him.  Events such as the Downtown Jingle 5K, Providence Flea and national Cheerleading competition and others in Providence were canceled.

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A light snow has fallen in Providence. Today will mark the first night of Hanukkah. Today is the 13th Anniversary of the shootings at Sandy Hook.

As we go to publication there has been a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach in Australia, with 2 gunmen neutralized and over 50 bullets sprayed into a crowd with many victims, some will be fatal. 16 taken to hospital, at least 2 dead. 

At 3am, students are still being evacuated from classroom buildings and escorted back to where they live – apartments, dorms.

The shooter remains at large.

Police from Providence, Brown Campus, State, Johnston, Cranston, and other RI cities/towns, FBI Boston, ATF, etc. are coordinating.

“The Brown University Shooting” is the lede story on every newscast, local, national, international.

All 11 victims are students – 2 have died. 8 are in “critical but stable” condition. 1 has been treated and released.

City and campus buses are still evacuating students from classroom buildings and bringing them to a reunification center or back to their dorms or apartments. One student was seen being taken out on a stretcher, escorted by police openly carrying their weapons. She was crying out loudly.

A shelter-in-place remains in order for the greater Brown University community.

The Providence Place Mall was evacuated and closed around 9pm, packed with holiday shoppers. Announcements were made at Providence Performing Arts and the AMP Center prior to events being ended. Police were outside the venues to provide security for those leaving to go to their cars.

At the 11pm news conference Providence Mayor Smiley said people should go to church if they were planning to, etc. That even though a shelter in place order may still be in effect, it will be a personal choice to go out, go to events, etc., or not.

He noted that even local firefighters and over 400 police are on site. Some have been activated to have a presence at venues today such as a local park, shopping areas, churches, etc. Yet, with a shelter-in-place for this university in a densely housed community mixed with residences and small businesses, it is unclear if that will happen.

Brown University has released at least 2 dozen statements. Students were told to prepare “go-bags” if they are needed to be quickly evacuated.

This statement was released to media by Brown University at 8:30pm:

“As of 8:30 p.m. this evening, law enforcement response to the shooting situation at Brown University remains ongoing, and Brown’s campus remains on lockdown. We will continue to publish all Brown University updates on the Brown.edu website.

We recognize there are many questions and interview requests from journalists that we’re not able to address one-on-one in the short term. Please continue to look for updates at Brown.edu and via the City of Providence’s official communications channels.

Message from Brown President Christina H. Paxson

Dear Brown Community,

This is a deeply tragic day for Brown, our families and our local community. There are truly no words that can express the deep sorrow we are feeling for the victims of the shooting that took place today at the Barus & Holley engineering and physics building.

We lost two community members today who were fatal victims of the shooting, and at this point, we know there are at least eight additional victims who were transported to the hospital. In this moment, they are in critical but stable condition, but this is an evolving situation. Our hearts are with their families.

Our Department of Public Safety has been working closely with law enforcement and has been informed that the suspect is still at large and the situation remains active. We know this is a source of tremendous fear and anxiety across our community right now. While DPS was at one point informed that there was an individual in custody, that person was determined not to be the shooting suspect after questioning. Therefore, we urge all members of our community to remain vigilant. We continue to be in lockdown, and it is imperative that all members of our community remain sheltered in place. This means keeping all doors locked and ensuring no movement across campus.

We know our community wants answers, and we will provide them as soon as we can. For now, please know we are doing all we can to keep our community safe and have mobilized support for the students and their families. I encourage you to read the updates being provided via the RAVE alert system and Brown.edu website about this emergency. We are committed to providing updates as soon as information is available.

As we have shared in the alerts, law enforcement is actively working to identify the community members who lost their lives, and we are working with local hospitals to identify those transported for care. Even when we have that information, we may not be able to release it to our campus immediately. Whether or not you spend any time in Barus & Holley, I ask all students, faculty and staff to please be in touch directly with your families to let them know you are safe. They are worried about you.

This is a day that we hoped never would come to our community. It is deeply devastating for all of us. We are grateful to law enforcement for their immediate response and their ongoing work to ensure the safety of our community. Please continue to take all steps to be safe.

Sincerely,

Christina H. Paxson, President

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Synopsis:

At approximately 4pm, just before a final exam was to end in the Barus and Holley Engineering building, what is believed to be a lone gunman opened fire. Two students are dead. Eight others are being treated at Rhode Island Hospital – with 1 having been released.

One video has been released showing the shooter (here posted courtesy NBC10): 

The map below indicates that the shooter exited the building onto Hope Street and turned right onto Waterman Street, walking toward Gano St. and Wayland Square, and away from downtown Providence.

Suspect described as a male in his 30s.

Officials have said that there are videos from inside the engineering building of young people running but that no image of the suspected shooter could be seen.

People in the area are being asked to look at their RING cameras and private surveillance video. Early on they were told to lock their doors, to call police if there were any noises of concern, and even one law enforcement official telling immediate neighbors to move to an interior area of their home.

Students remain sheltered in their dorms, with many having plans to travel home this weekend for the winter break and holiday.

President Trump spoke about the shooting on the tarmac after the Army-Navy Game saying he had been briefed and ‘it was a shame – many are badly injured’.

The FBI has established a tip site:  tips.FBI.gov

There have been at least 75 school shootings in 2025.

This is a developing story. 

Follow RINewsToday on social media for immediate updates:

https://www.facebook.com/RINewsTodaydotcom/ 

https://x.com/RINewsToday

Also follow the Providence Police Department on “X” for immediate updates:  https://x.com/ProvidenceRIPD