A massive manhunt remains underway in Rhode Island after police released a person of interest detained in connection with a deadly mass shooting at Brown University. The attack on Saturday left two students dead and nine others injured, sending shockwaves through the prestigious Ivy League campus and the city of Providence.
Investigation Takes a Turn as Suspect Remains at Large
Providence police confirmed that a man in his 20s, who was taken into custody at a hotel in Coventry early on Sunday morning, has been released. The detention followed an FBI tip, but officials stated there was insufficient evidence to proceed with charges.
More than 400 law enforcement personnel are now involved in the search for the actual suspect, who is believed to be a male dressed in black, as seen in a brief surveillance video released by authorities. The shooting occurred around 4 p.m. local time on Saturday at the Barus & Holley engineering building, where final exams were being held.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha addressed the development, stating, "Obviously we have a murderer out there, frankly, and so we’re not going to give away the game plan." He described the investigation as having to "regroup and go in another" direction.
Community in Mourning as Victims Are Named
The two students who lost their lives have been identified. Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov was an aspiring neurosurgeon described by his family as "the most kind-hearted person." Ella Cook, from Alabama, was remembered as her family's "bright light."
Of the nine injured, seven were reported in stable condition by Sunday, with one person in critical but stable condition and another having been discharged from hospital.
Although the campus-wide shelter-in-place order has been lifted, the area is still considered an active crime scene, with a heavy police presence. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley acknowledged the heightened anxiety in the community, especially following the release of the detained individual. "We understand that there's a high degree of anxiety," Smiley said, but assured residents that there are no credible ongoing threats to the broader community.
Students Recount Harrowing Lockdown Experience
Eyewitness accounts from students paint a picture of the fear and confusion that gripped the campus. Graduate student Ref Bari, 22, was inside the Barus & Holley building when he heard what sounded like gunfire. He fled and was taken in by another student he did not know, hiding in her basement bathroom.
Another graduate student, Jack DiPrimio, expressed a troubling sense of desensitisation, noting that frequent active-shooter drills in high school and university had initially tempered his worry during the lockdown. "Maybe I was desensitized," he reflected in a social media post.
The shooting has also reignited the national debate on gun violence in the United States. Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, a leading Democratic voice on gun reform, pointedly criticised former President Donald Trump, accusing him of encouraging a "dizzying campaign" of violence that makes such tragedies more likely.
As the investigation continues with no named suspect, the Brown University community held a candlelit vigil on Sunday evening, mourning the lives cut short and grappling with the trauma of the attack.
