PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The investigation into Saturday’s deadly mass shooting at Brown University has entered its fifth day with no identified suspect or established motive, leaving authorities to pursue a critical witness who may hold vital clues.
Providence Police Department intensified their public appeal Wednesday, releasing surveillance images of an individual clad in a grey hoodie and dark overcoat who was reportedly ‘in proximity’ to the suspected gunman during the attack. Chief Oscar Perez emphasized this unidentified person likely possesses ‘relevant information’ crucial to advancing the case, noting they were ‘close enough’ to the suspect to warrant immediate questioning.
The tragic incident unfolded when an armed assailant stormed an examination hall at the Ivy League institution, fatally shooting two students before escaping. The victims have been identified as Ella Cook, vice president of Brown’s Republican Party association, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, an aspiring neurosurgeon from Uzbekistan. Medical officials confirmed one survivor remains in critical but stable condition, while five others are stable and two have been released from hospitalization.
Complicating the investigation, the university’s security infrastructure has come under intense scrutiny. It was revealed that none of Brown’s 1,200 security cameras were integrated with police surveillance systems, prompting sharp criticism from former President Donald Trump and others regarding campus safety protocols. University administrators issued a detailed response acknowledging that camera coverage doesn’t extend to all areas of their 250-building campus.
This shooting marks one of more than 300 mass shootings recorded in the United States this year by the Gun Violence Archive, occurring against a backdrop of continued political gridlock regarding firearm access restrictions. Authorities have warned the public against circulating AI-generated images related to the case, which could potentially hinder investigative efforts.