In a somber moment that has rippled far beyond Providence, Brown University is mourning the deaths of two promising students—19-year-old sophomore Ella Cook and 18-year-old freshman Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov—after a mass shooting tore through a classroom during final exam preparation on Saturday afternoon. Their lives, full of promise and potential, were cut short on December 13 as classmates prepared for a future they’d dreamed of.
Cook, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, was known on and off campus as a vibrant and engaged young woman. A devout Christian and vice president of Brown’s College Republicans, she brought warmth, generosity and a spirited presence to every room she entered. At her home parish, the Cathedral Church of the Advent, she was remembered as a “bright light,” someone whose kindness and steadfast faith sustained those around her.
Umurzokov, who grew up in Virginia after emigrating from Uzbekistan as a child, was an honors student with a clear purpose: to make a lasting impact through medicine. Family and friends described him as “incredibly kind, funny and smart,” a humble young man driven by a dream of becoming a neurosurgeon. His journey included surviving a major brain surgery as a child, an experience that fueled his desire to help others facing medical hardship.
The shooting unfolded around 4:05 p.m. in the Barus and Holley engineering building, where students were attending a review session just days before finals. An unidentified gunman entered the unlocked classroom and opened fire, killing Cook and Umurzokov and injuring nine others. Those wounded ranged from students in critical condition to others now stable or discharged after treatment.
Shock and grief quickly gave way to a massive law enforcement response. Authorities briefly detained a man early Sunday, but he was released later that day as the investigation continued. Now, police and the FBI are actively searching for the suspect, who remains at large and is considered “armed and dangerous.” Surveillance footage released by authorities shows a male figure in black walking near campus shortly after the shooting, and the FBI has offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to his arrest.
The tragedy has jolted the Brown community and touched hearts across the nation. Candlelight vigils, prayer services and social media tributes have poured in, each echoing the same sentiment: these were students full of life and promise, united in their pursuit of knowledge, community and service. Friends describe Cook as someone who always lifted others up, and Umurzokov as a calming presence whose absence will be deeply felt.
As the search for answers continues, Brown University canceled remaining in-person exams and delayed academic notifications for the rest of the semester, offering counseling and support to students and staff. For a campus once defined by curiosity and ambition, the lingering sound of silence is a harsh reminder that a place of learning can also become a scene of unfathomable loss.
