The day after a gunman killed two people and injured nine others on Dec. 14, 2025, a Providence police officer removed crime scene tape across the street from Brown University’s Burroughs and Hawley schools. Photo Credit – Jessica Rinaldi – The Boston Globe/Getty Images
The hunt continues for the gunman who opened fire Saturday while studying for finals at Brown University, killing two students and wounding nine others, after authorities announced Sunday night the release of a “person of interest” in their custody.
“We know this may create new anxiety in our community,” Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said at a news conference Sunday evening as he sought to address public concerns about safety. “We believe you remain safe in our community, although we will continue to have an increased police presence throughout the city and on Brown’s campus.”
Providence Police Chief Capt. Oscar Perez said at a news conference that after the FBI received a tip, investigators found a 24-year-old suspect who was taken into custody Sunday. But Perez said after an investigation, authorities did not have enough evidence to charge the man.
“We haven’t settled this case yet, but I believe we will, and I’m sure we will in the near future,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha.
Smiley asked anyone with information about the shooting to come forward as law enforcement continues to look for more video evidence. Officials said surveillance footage is limited because the building where the shooting occurred is “an old building with a new building connected to it” and doesn’t have many cameras. Smiley added that community members should expect to see police going door-to-door looking for more video evidence.
“We do have a brief video clip that we believe is the person we’re looking for,” the mayor told ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Monday. “We don’t have any evidence at this point that this is more than the person seen in the video.”
The shooting occurred at Brown University’s Barus & Holley Engineering and Physics Building around 4 p.m. Saturday, according to university President Christina Paxson. Paxson said Sunday that seven of the victims injured in the attack were in serious but stable condition, while another remains in critical condition.
College Republicans identified one of the students killed in the attack as Ella Cook, associate dean of Brown College Republicans.
“Ella was known for her boldness, bravery, and kind heart while serving her chapter and classmates,” the national organization wrote in a post on X.
Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry identified another student killed in the attack as Mohammad Aziz Umurzakov.
“He was very kind and smart. He went to a school for the bright and gifted,” Umurzokov’s aunt, Karina Gabit, told NBC News. He “wanted to be a neurosurgeon because when he was 10 years old, he had a very serious eight-hour brain surgery.”
Brown University said in a statement Sunday night that law enforcement does not believe there are any other threats to the campus or the local community. However, the school advises students and faculty to expect a continued law enforcement presence as the investigation continues.
“As Providence Police continue to lead this investigation, they have notified Brown that they are continuing search efforts, which include ongoing coordination with multiple agencies,” the university said. “Local, state and federal police activity in the area continues to increase as law enforcement continues to investigate and patrol and increase vigilance.”
Smiley said he has no plans to reinstate shelter-in-place recommendations that were lifted after the suspect was taken into custody. Providence Public Schools remained open Monday, but several other private schools in the area remained closed due to the shooting, according to Providence Magazine. Brown canceled classes and exams for the remainder of the semester.
Saturday’s attack came on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting that claimed the lives of 26 victims, including 20 elementary school students. At least two Brown University students are survivors of previous school shootings.
Contact us Email: letters@time.com.