Police in the United States have released new video footage as the desperate search continues for the gunman who opened fire inside a Brown University classroom, killing two students and wounding nine others.
Victims Identified in Campus Tragedy
The two students who lost their lives in Saturday's attack have been named. They are Ella Cook, from Mountain Brook, Alabama, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a citizen of Uzbekistan. The shooting erupted inside an engineering building on the prestigious Ivy League campus in Providence, Rhode Island, while final exams were underway.
A police official stated the attacker fired more than 40 rounds from a 9mm handgun, sparking hours of chaos. Hundreds of officers were involved in a frantic search of the campus and surrounding neighbourhoods, with many students barricading themselves in rooms or hiding behind furniture during a prolonged lockdown.
Investigation Takes a Turn as Suspect Released
In a significant development, authorities announced on Sunday that a "person of interest" detained in connection with the attack had been released from custody. Police confirmed that evidence had begun to point "in a different direction," marking a setback for the investigation.
When this individual was initially taken into custody at a Rhode Island hotel, police recovered two handguns and two loaded 30-round magazines. The lockdown on the university campus was lifted following this detention.
New CCTV Footage Released in Public Appeal
On Monday, Providence Police released new CCTV footage in a public appeal for assistance. The video, timestamped at 4.06pm, shows a figure dressed entirely in black walking along a pavement. The person's face is not visible in the released clip.
"Right now, we don't have any evidence to suggest that it was more than that individual," Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said regarding the person in the footage. Investigators are still working to determine how the gunman gained access to the first-floor classroom in the seven-storey complex.
Aftermath and Ongoing Recovery
Of the nine wounded students, one has been released from hospital, according to University President Christina Paxson. Seven others remain in a critical but stable condition, with one student still listed as critical.
In response to the tragedy, Brown University—the seventh-oldest higher education institution in the US—has cancelled all remaining classes and exams for the semester. The campus, home to around 7,300 undergraduates and over 3,000 graduate students, is now focused on recovery and supporting its community.
