Manhunt for Brown University Shooter Continues After Person of Interest Released
A 24-year-old person of interest detained during the investigation was released, as authorities continue to seek video evidence and monitor for additional threats around Brown University and the surrounding city.
A manhunt for the shooter who opened fire during a Brown University study session on Saturday remains active after authorities said Sunday night that a person of interest detained earlier was released. The attack killed two students and wounded nine others, according to university and city officials. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley urged calm while signaling that police would maintain an enhanced presence around the campus and throughout the city as investigators pursue new leads and video evidence.
Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez said the 24-year-old person of interest was taken into custody Sunday after an FBI tip led investigators to the individual, but authorities later determined there was insufficient evidence to prosecute. "We have not yet solved this case," Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said, adding that investigators were confident they would resolve it in the near future. Smiley urged anyone with information to come forward as investigators continue to scour for additional video footage. Officials said the building's age and layout produced limited surveillance, with the campus and neighborhood still drawing officers who are going door to door to seek more video. "We do have a small, short clip of video footage that we do believe is the person that we’re looking for," Smiley said on ABC's Good Morning America. "And right now we don’t have any evidence to suggest that it was more than that individual which has been seen in that video."
The shooting occurred around 4 p.m. Saturday in Brown’s Barus & Holley building, according to university President Christina Paxson. Paxson said Sunday that seven of the wounded remained in critical but stable condition, while one person was in critical condition. The victims also include Ella Cook, identified by the College Republicans of America as the organization’s vice president at Brown, and Muhammad Aziz Umurzakov, identified by the Uzbekistan Foreign Affairs Ministry. Cook’s colleagues praised her leadership, while Umurzokov’s aunt told NBC News he dreamed of becoming a neurosurgeon after an eight-hour brain operation when he was a child. Brown University said law enforcement did not believe there were any additional threats to campus or the local community and that the search would continue with heightened law enforcement presence.
The university noted that the investigation involves cooperation with multiple agencies as Providence police lead the effort. Smiley said he did not intend to reinstate a shelter-in-place advisory that had previously been lifted. Providence Public Schools opened on Monday, though several private schools in the area remained closed as the region copes with the aftermath of the shooting. Brown cancelled classes and exams for the remainder of the semester, and officials stressed that students and faculty should expect continued police activity in the area.
The attack landed on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, a reminder of the national conversations around campus safety and gun violence. Brown students who survived prior shootings in other settings have noted the enduring impact of such events on campus life. Investigators have urged the public to review any surveillance footage from nearby areas and to report tips promptly as the inquiry continues.