In a devastating revelation that has deepened the grief surrounding the December 13, 2025, mass shooting at Brown University, close friends of victim Ella Cook have come forward with haunting details about the gunman’s behavior in the hours leading up to the tragedy.

According to those who knew her best, the shooter was spotted following Ella during lunchtime on the day of the attack. The group had gathered for a casual meal, laughing and sharing stories as finals week loomed. But amid the normalcy, friends noticed a strange man lingering nearby, watching Ella intently. “He was just standing there, staring at her from across the area,” one friend recalled in private conversations. After the lunch ended, the suspicious figure suddenly disappeared – only to reappear later in the classroom where chaos would erupt.

Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore from Mountain Brook, Alabama, was one of two students killed when the gunman opened fire inside the Barus and Holley engineering building during a crowded review session. Known for her radiant personality, strong faith, and leadership as vice president of Brown’s College Republicans chapter, Ella was described by peers as a “bright light” who brought kindness to everyone around her. She was studying French and mathematics-economics, with a promising future ahead.

The other victim was Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, an aspiring neurosurgeon whose intelligence and warmth touched many lives. Nine more students were injured in the attack, which shattered the sense of safety on the Ivy League campus in Providence, Rhode Island.

This new account of stalking adds a layer of terror to an already heartbreaking event. Friends now wonder if earlier intervention could have changed the outcome. Why did the man target the group? Was Ella specifically in his sights, or was it random cruelty amid dozens of students? The sudden vanishing act after lunch only heightens the mystery – he blended into the crowd, then struck when least expected.

Mass shootings on college campuses remain a painful reality in America, with this incident marking one of the deadliest at an Ivy League school. It occurred during finals period, a time of high stress for students preparing for exams. The gunman, later identified through intensive investigation as Cláudio Manuel Neves Valente, a former Brown student, fled the scene and was found dead days later from a self-inflicted wound.

The revelation has left Ella’s friends reeling, grappling with survivor’s guilt and unanswered questions. “We saw him watching her… if only we’d said something,” one whispered. The community has rallied with vigils, memorials, and calls for better campus security measures, including improved surveillance and alert systems.

Ella’s loss has resonated far beyond Providence, touching her Alabama hometown where flags flew at half-staff. Her church remembered her as faithful and generous, a young woman whose life was cut tragically short. As investigations continue into motives, this stalking detail serves as a grim reminder of how quickly normal moments can turn deadly.

The Brown University community mourns not just the lives lost, but the innocence shattered. Ella Cook’s story – one of promise, friendship, and unexplained horror – will linger as a call for vigilance and change.