Fear has gripped the campus of Brown University in Rhode Island, with a growing number of terrified students fleeing the state in the wake of a fatal shooting. The incident, which left two dead and nine injured, has shattered the community's sense of security, with many expressing a profound loss of faith in law enforcement's ability to protect them as the gunman remains on the loose.
Students Speak Out on Safety Fears
The Daily Mail has spoken with several students, some too frightened to be named, who have already left Rhode Island out of fear for their personal safety. The shooter responsible for the Saturday attack is still at large, a fact that has deeply unsettled the student body. This anxiety was compounded when the FBI released a person of interest on Sunday evening only to later release him without charges.
"It's just insane that they have no leads, they still haven't caught the guy it's really scary to be honest," one anonymous student told the publication. Criticising the initial evidence released, the student added, "All they have is one blurry photo that went up half an hour ago no one is ever gonna identify him from that." This student confirmed they had fled the state early on Monday.
The images in question, released by the FBI on Monday afternoon, showed a shadowy figure walking near the campus. Many were furious at the lack of clarity, feeling it offered little hope for a swift identification.
Barricaded in Dorms and a Rush to Escape
Karsen Chimineli, a 20-year-old junior, echoed these concerns. After barricading herself in her dorm room for hours following the initial alerts, she made the decision to return home to her family in New York. "I knew I wanted to get out of there as fast as I could... Happy I did that now that he's released," she said, referring to the release of the initial person of interest, Benjamin Erickson.
Roman Novy-Marx, another Brown junior, has similarly lost confidence in the authorities. "The FBI having no idea with what's going on or who's even a suspect definitely instills a lack of faith to say the least," he stated. He described the campus atmosphere as akin to a horror movie, adding, "The truth is I don't think anyone feels safe on campus."
Novy-Marx provided a harrowing account of the panic that spread at 4:22 pm on Saturday, just as he was planning to leave for a campfire. He received urgent texts about an active shooter and was told by his boss to "get the hell out of campus." He drove to a wooded area to hide, later unable to return due to an FBI perimeter.
The Victims and a Community in Mourning
The attack tragically claimed the lives of two young students: MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, 18, and Ella Cook, 19. Novy-Marx shared a brave act by a friend who was shot while trying to drag injured people to safety. He believes his friend survived only because the person in front of him, possibly Umurzokov, took the brunt of the gunfire.
Teaching assistant Joseph Oduro, who was in the lecture hall during the shooting, provided a first-hand account, stating the gunman made eye contact with him and the weapon was so large he feared for his life.
In response to the crisis, the FBI has since issued clearer images of the suspect and announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Meanwhile, professors have reached out to offer support, including lifts to the airport, meals, and places to stay.
As the manhunt continues, the sentiment among many students was summarised by Karsen Chimineli: "Student's biggest concern should be finals, not a school shooting." For now, safety remains the paramount and elusive priority for the Brown University community.
