FBI releases photos of suspect as search for Brown University shooter enters fourth day – live updates
Brown University President Christina H. Paxson released a letter mourning the loss of two students, Ella Cook and MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, who were killed in Saturday’s shooting.
“Three days ago, we lost two members of our Brown community to an act of unimaginable and senseless violence,” the letter read. “These were two young people whose amazing promise was extinguished too soon. Both were at or near the beginning of their Brown journey — actually, they were at the beginning of a lot of things.”
Paxson said the university withheld their names earlier to “give their families some space to grieve, but now it is important that we never forget them.”
Paxson shared what she learned about Cook and Umurzokov, describing them as “brilliant and beloved.”
“I have learned that Ella, who came to Brown from Mountain Brook, Alabama, was a passionate and intellectually curious member of our community who was interested in French and Francophone studies,” Paxson said, adding that Cook was also an accomplished pianist who volunteered at her church.
“She was known for her compassionate, loyal and courageous spirit, and we understand she was described by a church leader as a ‘tremendous bright light’ who brought peace and faith to all those around her,” Paxson said.
Paxson went on to remember Umurzokov, saying he “was known for being driven, conscientious and disciplined, particularly as he pursued his deep ambition to make a positive impact in the world by becoming a neurosurgeon.”
“Mukhammad was a U.S. dual citizen from Uzbekistan who graduated from Midlothian High School in Virginia,” she said, “I have been moved by his current and former classmates’ descriptions of him as someone who generously shared his intelligence, humor and kindness with all those who knew him.”
The university president offered her condolences to the families of both Cook and Umurzokov.
