A tragic shooting at Brown University has claimed the lives of two students and left nine others wounded, casting a pall over the Ivy League campus just days before the end of the semester.
Promising Lives Cut Short in Study Session
The attack occurred on Saturday inside a classroom in an engineering building. MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old freshman from Brandermill, Virginia, and Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore from Mountain Brook, Alabama, were among a study group preparing for an economics final when a gunman entered and opened fire. The assailant fled the scene and remained at large as of Monday, with investigators actively searching for him and probing his motives.
Umurzokov, a double-major in biochemistry and neuroscience, was a dedicated student who had aspired to become a neurosurgeon since childhood, a dream born from his own experiences with a neurological condition and scoliosis. His sister, Samira Umurzokova, described him as a thoughtful and selfless individual who helped newly-immigrated students adjust to life in the United States. "He always tried to include everyone in everything," she said.
Ella Cook was a vibrant member of her community, serving as vice president of the Brown College Republicans and being a beloved figure at her church in Birmingham, Alabama. The Reverend R. Craig Smalley remembered her as "an incredible grounded, faithful, bright light." The president of the campus Republican club, Martin Bertao, said members were "devastated" by the loss of someone known for her "bold, brave, and kind heart."
Aftermath and Ongoing Investigation
Of the nine people wounded in the attack, only one had been released from hospital by Sunday, according to Brown University President Christina Paxson. One victim was in a critical condition, while the other seven were described as critical but stable.
One of those critically injured was identified as Kendall Turner, a recent graduate of Durham Academy in North Carolina. Her school confirmed her parents were by her side and that the community was rallying in support.
A Campus and Families in Mourning
The shocking violence has left the university community in Providence reeling, disrupting the final stretch of the academic term. As the search for the gunman continues, friends and relatives of the victims are left grappling with an immense and senseless loss. The incident raises urgent questions about campus security and the broader issue of gun violence affecting educational institutions.
Both families are now facing the heartbreaking task of mourning young lives filled with extraordinary promise. Umurzokov had planned to take his sisters to see a new film this Friday, while Cook was remembered for her ability to lift up those around her. Their deaths mark a profound tragedy for Brown University and beyond.
