Authorities investigating the deadly shooting at Brown University have released a newly compiled video timeline tracing the movements of the suspected gunman before and after the attack, as the search for the shooter enters a critical phase with no arrest yet announced.
The shooting occurred Saturday afternoon on Brown’s campus in Providence, Rhode Island, killing two students and injuring nine others inside an engineering building. The violence has shaken the Ivy League university and left the surrounding community on edge.
New Video Evidence, Limited Clarity
On Tuesday, law enforcement agencies shared surveillance footage and still images showing a person of interest walking through streets and sidewalks near the campus for roughly an hour starting shortly after 2 p.m. The footage places the suspect within several blocks of the engineering building both before and after the shooting.
Despite the release, investigators acknowledged that the images do not clearly show the suspect’s face. In all publicly released clips, the individual’s face is obscured by a mask or turned away from the camera. Authorities have described the suspect only as stocky and approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall.
Some video segments show the individual retracing steps and passing the same locations multiple times. In one clip, the person abruptly turns and runs in the opposite direction when encountering someone nearby. Other footage appears to show the suspect leaving the area minutes after the shooting.
Hundreds of Tips, No Identification Yet
Providence police say they have received roughly 200 tips so far. Police Chief Oscar Perez urged residents and businesses near the campus to review home security and doorbell cameras, emphasizing that even a few seconds of additional footage could prove crucial.
“We’re looking for a moment shorter than someone taking a breath,” Perez said, underscoring how limited evidence can still unlock major investigative breakthroughs.
Federal authorities, including the FBI, are assisting local police. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha defended the pace of the investigation, saying it is progressing well despite public frustration and the lack of clear visual evidence.
Officials declined to speculate on motive, cautioning against assumptions involving politics, ethnicity, or ideology.
Campus Security Under Scrutiny
The shooter’s escape has raised questions about campus safety measures. Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed the school has more than 1,200 security cameras, but investigators have not found clear footage from inside the engineering building where the attack occurred.
Paxson also addressed criticism over the university’s emergency alert systems. While mass text, phone, and email alerts were sent to approximately 20,000 people, campus sirens were not activated. Paxson said sirens could have caused people to rush toward buildings, potentially increasing danger during an active shooter situation.
Providence officials have increased police presence across the city, particularly at schools. After-school activities and field trips were canceled as a precaution, and state troopers were deployed to support local law enforcement.
Community Grief and Debate
Vigils, church services, and makeshift memorials have drawn hundreds of students, alumni, and residents seeking comfort and solidarity. Many expressed fear but also determination not to let violence define campus life.
Others questioned whether heightened security alone can prevent future tragedies. Some students argued that measures such as locked doors and cameras offer only an “illusion of safety” without broader changes addressing gun violence.
Remembering the Victims
The victims were students gathered in a first-floor classroom studying for finals when the gunman entered. As of Tuesday, two of the wounded had been released from the hospital. Of those still hospitalized, one remained in critical condition, while others were listed as stable or critical but improving.
The two students killed were identified as Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore and vice president of the Brown College Republicans, and MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old freshman majoring in biochemistry and neuroscience. Both were remembered as driven, compassionate, and deeply valued members of the campus community.
Brown University has canceled all remaining classes, exams, and assignments for the fall semester as the investigation continues.
