Campus in Crisis: Brown University Reels from Deadly Incident as Manhunt Intensifies

Providence, Rhode Island’s quaint College Hill, home to Brown University’s storied red-brick buildings and tree-lined paths, transformed into a scene of profound sorrow on the afternoon of December 13, 2025. What started as a typical Saturday during finals week—students gathering in classrooms for review sessions and exams—erupted into tragedy inside the Barus & Holley engineering and physics building. By day’s end, two young lives were lost, nine others bore injuries, and a multi-agency dragnet swept the city in pursuit of the individual responsible, who slipped away amid the confusion.

The sequence unfolded swiftly around 4:05 p.m., when emergency calls flooded Providence Police dispatchers reporting an active threat near the seven-story Barus & Holley complex, a hub for engineering labs, physics research, and multipurpose classrooms. Brown administrators triggered shelter-in-place alerts at 4:22 p.m., urging the campus’s 10,000-plus students, faculty, and staff to barricade doors and stay silent. Thayer Street, the vibrant commercial strip flanking the university, ground to a halt as tactical teams in armored vehicles converged, helicopters thrummed overhead, and K-9 units combed adjacent neighborhoods like Wayland Square and Fox Point.

First responders breached the building within minutes, locating victims on the first floor where a Principles of Economics review session had drawn about two dozen undergraduates. Providence Fire Department paramedics triaged on-site, transporting the wounded to Rhode Island Hospital, The Miriam Hospital, and Hasbro Children’s Hospital. By evening, officials confirmed the grim tally: two fatalities and nine injuries, ranging from critical to treatable. Seven remained in critical but stable condition as of December 15, with one discharged after minor fragment wounds. All victims were Brown students, President Christina H. Paxson affirmed in a late-night press conference, her voice steady yet strained.

The fallen were identified over the weekend, their stories painting portraits of ambition and warmth that now fuel nationwide tributes. Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore from Birmingham, Alabama, emerged first in announcements. During a Sunday service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Rev. Craig Smalley shared the devastating news with parishioners, hailing Cook as “incredibly grounded and generous and faithful.” He described her as a “tremendous and bright light” in the church community, engaged in worship and service, extending that radiance to Brown. “She was such a light and such a witness,” Smalley said, his words echoing across social media as clips spread. Cook served as vice president of Brown’s College Republicans chapter, earning praise from national president Martin Bertao for her “bold, brave, and kind heart.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted condolences, noting “there are no words” while urging prayers for Cook’s parents and siblings.

The second victim, Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old freshman from Uzbekistan with dreams of becoming a surgeon, was confirmed December 15. U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick expressed deep sadness, extending condolences for the loss of Umurzokov’s “bright future.” Family statements, including a GoFundMe launched by his sister Samira, highlighted his brilliance and determination—an international student navigating Brown’s rigorous academics far from home. Vice President JD Vance tweeted a tribute, calling him a “brilliant young man.” Governors and officials across states mourned both, with Rhode Island’s Dan McKee ordering flags at half-staff statewide.

Survivors’ accounts trickled out amid trauma counseling. One sophomore, sheltering in a nearby dorm, described the alerts as “surreal,” watching from windows as stretchers emerged. Another, a Ph.D. candidate who left Barus & Holley minutes prior, credited a whim of fatigue for sparing her. Paxson, in updates, praised first responders’ swift actions and students’ composure—many administering aid before professionals arrived.

The perpetrator’s escape frustrated authorities. Surveillance captured a figure in dark clothing departing eastward through campus gates toward Hope Street, backpack in tow. Initial leads led to a Wisconsin veteran’s detention at a Coventry Hampton Inn December 14, tracked via cellphone data—but by evening, Providence Police released him, evidence insufficient. December 15 brought fresh imagery: clearer videos and photos of a different person of interest, mid-20s male, walking neighborhoods hours prior. FBI Boston upped the ante with a $50,000 reward, Special Agent Ted Docks deeming the individual a continuing risk. Chief Oscar L. Perez Jr. confirmed targeting of the building, probing motives without speculation. “Cooperation from victims and families has been extremely helpful,” he noted.

Brown’s immediate pivot underscored institutional resolve. Paxson canceled all remaining fall 2025 classes, exams, projects, and papers across undergraduate, graduate, and medical programs—a rarity for the Ivy known for academic intensity. “This is a deeply tragic day for Brown, our families, and our local community,” she wrote in a campus letter. “There are truly no words.” Resources mobilized overnight: doubled public safety staffing, AI door monitors, expanded counseling in hubs like the Nelson Fitness Center, meal deliveries to sheltered dorms, and academic accommodations like pass/fail options. International students, 20% of the population including Umurzokov, received visa and travel support amid holiday disruptions.

Community outpourings swelled. Makeshift memorials bloomed at Van Wickle Gates and Barus & Holley—flowers in snow, candles flickering, notes invoking resilience. Vigils drew hundreds: Sunday’s at Lippitt Park, emotional under flurries; Monday’s interfaith at the Main Green. Alumni donations surged, topping $3 million by December 16 for victim funds and security enhancements. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, visiting hospitals, lauded victims’ resilience and medical teams. President Donald Trump, from the White House, offered condolences: “Brown University—a great school… God bless the victims.” Flags lowered; moments of silence at Patriots games and beyond.

Political ripples amplified scrutiny. Cook’s Republican ties drew commentary from figures like Sen. Tommy Tuberville, linking to campus discourse debates, while advocates pushed broader safety talks. Everytown rankings placed Brown middling on drills; now, petitions demand universal ID swipes, garnering thousands of signatures. Clery Act audits loomed from the Department of Education.

Experts contextualized the shock. Crisis psychologist Dr. Elena Torres noted post-trauma pathways: “Grief to resolve—Brown’s community focus aids healing.” Parallels to past incidents evoked calls for prevention, though Rhode Island’s strict regulations highlighted enforcement gaps.

As December 16 unfolded, the manhunt pulsed—door-to-door canvasses, tip lines buzzing (over 500 calls), behavioral profiles refining. No arrests, but momentum: “Persistence will prevail,” Perez vowed.

For Cook and Umurzokov, legacies endure. Cook’s church planned scholarships in faith leadership; Umurzokov’s family sought repatriation amid global mourning. Survivors, bandaged but vocal, shared gratitude and grit. One, anonymous, told reporters: “We’re hurt, but Brown bonds us tighter.”

Providence’s winter dusk settled over College Hill December 16, lights twinkling defiantly in dorm windows. Barus & Holley, cordoned yet standing, symbolized breach and bounce-back. In classrooms paused mid-semester, echoes of laughter and lectures lingered—reminders that from profound loss springs unyielding community. The search continues, justice pursued, healing underway: Brown’s spirit, dimmed but not defeated, illuminates forward.