Credited from: HUFFPOST
The investigation into the Brown University shooting, which tragically resulted in the deaths of two students and injuries to nine others, continues to unfold as authorities work to identify the shooter. On Monday, the FBI and local police released new surveillance videos showing a person of interest strolling around the campus just hours before the attack. The suspect is described as approximately 5-feet-8, with a stocky build, dressed in dark clothing including a mask, which obscured his face during the incident, according to Indiatimes and HuffPost.
The FBI has now offered a reward of up to $50,000 for any information leading to the identification, arrest, and eventual conviction of the gunman. Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks emphasized, “No amount of information is too small or irrelevant,” encouraging vigilant public engagement during a press briefing. In addition to the reward, law enforcement officials have released multiple video clips and images captured on the day of the shooting, aiming to gather more clues regarding the suspect's whereabouts, according to ABC News and CBS News.
In the lead-up to the shooting, police detailed that there were failures in campus security, which have now led to heightened measures across the university. Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez has noted a critical need for identifying the suspect, who they believe intentionally targeted the campus. Investigators have been sifting through evidence and canvassing neighborhoods in search of further surveillance footage, resulting in mixed responses about previous handling of the situation, as earlier leads on another individual were dismissed for lack of ballistic evidence matching the crime scene, according to CBS News and HuffPost.
The victims of the shooting have been identified as Ella Cook, 19, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, both beloved members of the Brown community. As the investigation progresses, there is a deep sense of loss and fear among students and staff at Brown University, with many expressing their concerns about security on campus. As one student noted, the feeling of safety that once enveloped the campus has been severely disrupted, and rebuilding that trust will take time and effort, emphasizing the significant emotional toll the incident has taken, as shared by multiple reports from ABC News and Indiatimes.