In a tragedy that has shaken the nation, a devastated mother has shared the agonizing details of her final phone conversation with her 19-year-old daughter, Ella Cook, the only female student killed in the devastating mass shooting at Brown University on December 13, 2025. What was meant to be a joyful visit to surprise her daughter during finals week turned into an unimaginable farewell, leaving a family shattered and a community in mourning.

Ella Cook, a bright and ambitious sophomore from Mountain Brook, Alabama, was studying in the Barus and Holley Building when a lone gunman opened fire around 4:05 p.m. during the second day of final exams. The attack claimed two lives—Ella and 18-year-old Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov—and injured nine others, plunging the prestigious Ivy League campus in Providence, Rhode Island, into chaos. Students barricaded doors, hid under desks, and texted loved ones in terror as shelter-in-place alerts blared across phones.

Ella’s mother, who had traveled from Alabama to visit her daughter unexpectedly, spoke through tears about their last call just hours before the horror unfolded. “She was so excited when I told her I was coming to see her,” she recounted. “We laughed about her exams, and she said she couldn’t wait for a hug and some home-cooked meals. I never imagined that would be our goodbye. I just wanted to surprise her and bring a little joy during stressful finals.” The mother arrived on campus only to be met with lockdown sirens and the heartbreaking news that her beloved daughter was gone.

Described by friends and her church as a “faithful bright light,” Ella was an exceptional pianist, a studious scholar, and vice president of Brown’s College Republicans chapter. She embodied kindness and determination, balancing academics with leadership and faith. Her sudden loss has left classmates reeling—one survivor, a Parkland shooting veteran, said the gunfire reopened old wounds, forcing her to call her own mother in panic, just as she did years ago.

The shooting marks yet another grim chapter in America’s ongoing battle with gun violence. This year alone has seen over 390 mass shootings, with thousands losing their lives. The gunman, still at large as of December 16, targeted the engineering and physics building, firing a 9mm handgun before fleeing. Police have released surveillance footage of a person in dark clothing walking away from the scene and appealed for tips. A person of interest was detained and released, intensifying the manhunt.

Providence held emotional candlelight vigils, with hundreds gathering in snow-swept parks to honor the victims. Flags fly at half-staff across Rhode Island, and the university canceled all remaining exams, offering counseling to traumatized students. Leaders from across the political spectrum, including President Donald Trump and governors, expressed condolences and called for unity amid grief.

Ella’s mother clings to memories of her daughter’s laughter on that final call, a painful reminder of how quickly life can change. “She was my everything—full of dreams and love,” she said. “No parent should ever have to say goodbye like this.” As the investigation continues and the community heals, Ella’s story underscores the human toll of such tragedies, leaving hearts broken and a nation questioning how to prevent the next one.