Investigators Expand Net in Latest Brown University Update

As the search for the suspect in the Brown University shooting entered its fifth day, law enforcement officials urged the public to review phone and security footage from the days leading up to the attack. The hope is that this information could help investigators identify the person responsible for the tragic event.

Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez emphasized the intensity of the investigation during a news conference on Wednesday, stating that it is one of the most significant ongoing cases in the nation. He noted that investigators have collected a substantial amount of evidence from the crime scene.

Authorities have released several videos capturing the moments before Saturday’s attack, showing the person of interest moving along streets near campus. In the footage, the suspect is either wearing a mask or has their head turned, making identification challenging. Officials believe that video from days and even a week before the attack might reveal the suspect casing the area beforehand.

Despite the presence of 1,200 cameras on Brown University's campus, the attack occurred in a first-floor classroom within an older part of the engineering building that has "fewer, if any" cameras, according to Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. Investigators also believe the shooter entered and exited through a door facing a residential street adjacent to campus, which may explain why the available cameras did not capture the individual.

The lack of campus video footage of the shooter prompted President Donald Trump to criticize Brown University on Truth Social, asking, “Why did Brown University have so few Security Cameras? There can be no excuse for that. In the modern age, it just doesn’t get worse!!!”

Where the investigation stands

Authorities have described the suspect as approximately 5 feet, 8 inches tall and stocky, but they have not provided any indication that they are close to identifying the individual. The attacker's motives remain unknown, and Neronha has avoided speculation, stating that pursuing such questions is a "dangerous road to go down."

Investigators have been canvassing surrounding neighborhoods and have received about 200 tips. Neronha defended the progress of the investigation, calling it "really well" and urging patience. He stated, "There’s no discouragement among people who understand that not every case can be solved quickly."

Perez declined to provide details on the number of witnesses interviewed or the number of people present in the classroom during the attack. However, he confirmed that his department is conducting a thorough investigation. "We’re all over the place. If a tip tells us we need to go down to Connecticut, we’re going down to Connecticut. If a tip comes in and tells us that we got to go to Boston, we’re going to Boston," he said.

The timing of the attack, which occurred just before winter break, may complicate the investigation, as many students have already left campus. Additionally, the investigation coincides with Boston-area police searching for the person who killed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor earlier in the week. The FBI has stated there is no indication of a connection between the two attacks.

Separately, Providence police released a new photo of an individual who was in "proximity of the person of interest" and asked the public for assistance in identifying them. The person in the image is wearing dark pants and a blue jacket, carrying a light tan bag.

Campus security comes under scrutiny

The incident and the shooter's escape have raised concerns about campus security. Brown President Christina Hull Paxson explained that the university has two security systems. One, activated during emergencies, sent out text messages, phone calls, and emails to 20,000 people. The other system features three sirens across the campus, which were not activated during the attack. Paxson defended this decision, stating that using the sirens would have caused people to rush into buildings, including the one where the shooting occurred.

"A city on edge"

With the suspect still at large, Providence remained tense as additional police were stationed at city schools to reassure worried parents. Some schools canceled after-school activities and field trips. Prior to the shooting, nearly 1,600 residents were registered for the city's text alert service. Since Sunday, 760 new accounts have been created, bringing the total to more than 2,300 as of late Tuesday.

Brown also warned against online accusations linking individuals to the attack, following reports of a student being doxed—having their personal information posted online. The university stated that such speculation is "irresponsible, harmful, and in some cases dangerous for the safety of individuals in our community."

Police chief Perez also asked the public to stop circulating AI-generated images shared on social media.

Honoring the victims

About 200 people attended a campus church service on Tuesday to honor the victims, including Ella Cook and MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, the two students who lost their lives. Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore from Alabama, was actively involved in her church and served as vice president of the Brown College Republicans. Umurzokov, an 18-year-old freshman from Virginia, had aspirations of attending medical school.

Mayor Brett Smiley announced on Wednesday that a third wounded student had been discharged, leaving five still hospitalized in stable condition and one in critical condition.