Dec. 15 (UPI) — Anxiety has increased in Providence, R.I., as a person who shot and killed two people and injured nine on the Brown University campus is still at large, though there are “no credible threats,” Mayor Brett Smiley said.
A person of interest who was detained by police for questioning was released Monday morning. Smiley said he couldn’t rule out that the person had something to do with the shooting.
Smiley told Good Morning America that after processing evidence, “it was determined that this person of interest needed to be released.”
“Until such time as we have an individual in custody who we’re confident is responsible that we’re prepared to press charges and then prosecute, we’re going to continue to leave all doors open until such time is that we’re in a place where we feel confident that we’ve got the right person,” Smiley told NBC News.
He said there is an enhanced police presence on campus and in the city.
“We understand that there’s a high degree of anxiety and after this individual was released last night, I understand that anxiety level has risen in our community,” Smiley told ABC News Monday. “But it’s no different than a day ago, which is that we’ve received — continue to receive – zero credible threats to our community, Brown or the broader community.”
Brown has canceled the remainder of its fall semester classes.
The two victims who died were identified as Muhammad Aziz Umurzakov of Uzbekistan and Ella Cook of Birmingham, Ala. Cook was vice president of Brown’s chapter of College Republicans.
Cook’s church, Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, said she was “incredible, grounded, faithful, bright light” growing up in the church “but at Brown University, she was an incredible light in that particular place as well,” NBC News reported.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt retweeted a statement from the Brown College Republicans President and said, “There are no words. Thinking of her family and friends, especially her parents. God please bless them.” She has not mentioned Umurzakov.
There are no words. Thinking of her family and friends, especially her parents. God please bless them. https://t.co/226sRCSXgs— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) December 15, 2025
The Uzbekistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a post on Telegram, “The loss of innocent lives as a result of this tragedy is a heavy loss for all of us.”
Umurzokov’s aunt, Karina Gabit, told NBC, “He was very kind, smart. [He] attended talented and gifted schools.” He “wanted to be a neurosurgeon ’cause when he was 10 he had a very serious eight-hours-long brain surgery.”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said on X: “I am heartbroken to hear that Mountain Brook’s Ella Cook was among those killed over the weekend at Brown University. Our hearts and our prayers are with the Cook family and everyone impacted by this senseless killing.”
Rep. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said on X: “There are no words that can ease the pain Ella’s family and friends are enduring right now. … Our hearts are breaking for the Cook family.”
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.