Tips solicited for Brown University still at-large shooter

By Chris Wade
The Center Square

Law enforcement officials continued their hunt for the suspect in the deadly shooting at Brown University on Wednesday as they doubled down on calls for help from the public identifying a man seen in videos pieced together by investigators.

Providence Police Chief Oscar L. Perez Jr. said the investigation is complex and is going to take time but expressed confidence that authorities will eventually track down the suspect.

“I believe that this is probably the most intense investigation going on right now in this nation,” Perez told reporters at a live-streamed briefing. “A person is going to get caught. We’re going to do our jobs and we’re not going to stop until we do.”

Authorities shared a timeline of when the videos were captured, most of which were obtained from private home security cameras in the neighborhood surrounding the university.

They also released a map showing the Providence streets where they say a person of interest is confirmed to have been on the day of the shooting. They hope to generate more videos from private cameras to help identify the suspect.

Providence Police are releasing a map showing the streets where the person of interest in the Brown University shooting is confirmed to have been present on the day of the incident.Streets marked in green indicate locations where footage confirms the person of interest was… pic.twitter.com/WQf1d72OD9— Providence Police (@ProvidenceRIPD) December 17, 2025

Perez also cautioned people from spreading misinformation and photos doctored by artificial intelligence on social media, which he said could hamper the ongoing investigation as it enters its sixth day.

“I want to urge you, the public, not to rely on AI-generated images that are currently being shared on social media,” he said. “The updates and information you’re getting will be provided exclusively through this department’s social channels.”

The attack occurred Saturday at the Ivy League school’s engineering building as students were taking final exams, authorities said. The victims included Ella Cook, a 19-year-old Brown sophomore and vice president of the Brown College Republicans club, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, who graduated from high school earlier this year.

But five days after the shooting, the suspect remains at large

The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect, described as being approximately 5-foot-8 inches tall with a “stocky build.” Photos and videos shared by police show a figure dressed in dark clothing, with a beanie and face mask, walking near Brown University about two hours before the shooting.

On Wednesday, Providence police also shared multiple photos of a person who was seen near the person of interest and asked the public to help identify them. The photos show the person standing outside wearing a grey hood, blue jacket and black pants, carrying a light-colored bag.

“Once we identify who this person is,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha told reporters, “I believe we’ll be able to locate them.”

ENHANCED PHOTO: Investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying and speaking to the individual shown in this photo who was in proximity of the person of interest.Anyone with information is urged to contact the tip line at 401-272-3121. pic.twitter.com/D1reRPCdZV— Providence Police (@ProvidenceRIPD) December 17, 2025

The Providence Police Department is urging anyone with information about the person of interest to call its tipline 401-272-3121 or the FBI’s tip line.