PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island – In a chilling development in the ongoing manhunt following the deadly mass shooting at Brown University on December 13, 2025, authorities have announced a significant breakthrough. Surveillance footage from a parked car’s dashcam outside the Barus and Holley Building inadvertently captured the suspected gunman carving a series of mysterious numbers into a nearby wall shortly before the attack. Investigators describe this as a pivotal clue, potentially unveiling hidden motives behind the tragedy that claimed two lives and wounded nine others.

The incident unfolded around 4:05 p.m. during a crowded final exam review session for an introductory economics class in Room 166 of the engineering and physics building. A lone gunman, dressed in black and wearing a mask, entered the lecture hall and opened fire, killing students Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, from Virginia (originally from Uzbekistan), and Ella Cook, 19, a talented pianist and vice president of the university’s Republican Club. Nine others were injured, with several in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital.

As the fourth day of the intensive search dawned on December 16, Providence police and FBI agents revealed the dashcam video during a press briefing. The footage shows a stocky individual, approximately 5’8″ tall, methodically etching numbers onto the wall in the parking area. Sources close to the investigation indicate these markings could be codes, coordinates, or personal symbols tied to the suspect’s intentions, shifting focus toward a possible targeted or ideologically driven act.

“This is a game-changer,” said Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar L. Perez Jr. “The carving wasn’t random – it suggests premeditation and gives us a new direction.” The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s arrest, describing him as armed and dangerous. Enhanced images and videos from nearby streets, captured hours before the shooting, depict the same figure walking calmly near Hope and Benevolent streets.

The breakthrough comes after initial confusion: a person of interest detained over the weekend was released when evidence pointed elsewhere. Law enforcement canvassed neighborhoods for more footage, urging anyone in the building on December 12 or 13 to come forward.

Brown University, an Ivy League institution, canceled all remaining fall semester exams and classes, prioritizing mental health support amid profound grief. President Christina Paxson called it “a day of tremendous sorrow,” as vigils honored the victims. The shooting, one of over 390 mass shootings in the U.S. this year according to gun violence trackers, has reignited national debates on campus safety and gun control.

Investigators are now analyzing the carved numbers for patterns, exploring links to the victims’ profiles – including Cook’s conservative activism – while ruling out multiple shooters. Rhode Island officials express confidence in an imminent resolution, emphasizing the dashcam’s role in accelerating the probe.

As the community mourns, this eerie discovery has heightened fears: What do the numbers mean? And why target an elite campus during finals week? The hunt intensifies, with hope that this cryptic message will finally unmask the killer.