Providence, R.I. — On a late Saturday afternoon that was meant to be the culmination of a semester’s hard work, an economics final review at Brown University turned into a scene of chaos and heartbreak. Jacob Spears, an 18‑year‑old computer science and economics freshman from Evans, Georgia, was among the nine students wounded in a mass shooting that also claimed the lives of two of his classmates.
Spears, who graduated from Evans High School and was the only student from his class attending an Ivy League school, was seated in a crowded classroom when gunfire erupted around 4:05 p.m. on December 13. The bullet struck him in the stomach, but despite the severity of his injury, Spears managed to run out of the building to safety, where classmates and bystanders helped stop the bleeding until first responders arrived. His family, who rushed from Georgia to Rhode Island, say he is stable and expected to recover fully.
Across campus and beyond, the tragedy has rattled the tight‑knit Brown community. Two students — identified as Ella Cook, a 19‑year‑old sophomore from Alabama known for her leadership and musical talent, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, an 18‑year‑old freshman from Virginia with aspirations in medicine — were killed in the attack. Friends and classmates have described them as brilliant, compassionate, and deeply loved. Shrines of flowers and notes have sprung up outside the engineering building where the shooting occurred, as the university tries to find space for grief amid winter break preparations.
In the hours and days since the shooting, law enforcement has been engaged in an intense search for the suspect. Authorities released enhanced video and images of a person of interest — a masked individual in dark clothing — captured on cameras near campus before and after the attack, urging anyone with information to come forward. The FBI has added a $50,000 reward for tips that lead to the gunman’s arrest, but as of now, the suspect’s identity and motive remain unknown.
The Rhode Island State Police, Providence police, and federal partners have combed through hundreds of tips and footage from surrounding neighborhoods, but have yet to make a breakthrough. At one point, a person briefly detained was released when evidence did not link them to the crime, leaving families and the campus community still searching for answers.
For Spears’ friends back home, the focus is on support and healing. A GoFundMe set up by his high school peers aims to help cover lodging, travel, and recovery‑related costs for the family, though organizers emphasize the fund was not requested by Spears’ relatives. Even Georgia Congressman Rick Allen issued a message of solidarity, expressing gratitude that Spears is expected to pull through and appealing for continued thoughts for all impacted by the tragedy.
Brown University officials have canceled remaining exams and accelerated the start of winter break, hoping to give students space to process the trauma. Counseling services and memorial gatherings are planned as the campus tries to navigate the aftermath, while Chancellor Christina Paxson and local leaders vow to strengthen safety and community resilience in the months ahead.
As the manhunt continues and questions linger, Spears’ story — of survival and support — has become one of the few rays of light in a tragedy that has shaken an institution renowned for its promise and promise‑filled students.
