Brown University was an ‘organized, soft target’ for shooter, criminal profiler says

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND: A deadly shooting occurred at Brown University on the afternoon of December 13, 2025, when an unidentified gunman opened fire during a study session, killing two students and injuring nine others.

The suspect remains at large, prompting a large-scale manhunt across Rhode Island. A criminal profiler has weighed in on the incident, offering insight into the circumstances surrounding the campus and the suspect’s actions.

Profiler warns Brown University shooter remains a serious threat

John Kelly, president of STALK Inc, told Fox News that he characterized the Brown University campus as a “soft target” for the gunman, citing unsecured doors, limited security cameras, and the fact that the suspect was still not in custody days after the shooting.

Kelly described the unidentified shooter as someone who appeared “organized, very comfortable with a semiautomatic weapon,” and potentially familiar with the campus or its engineering program.

He further questioned the authorities’ search efforts, saying, “They don’t know if he’s 500 miles away or five doors down the street.” Emphasizing the ongoing danger, Kelly added, “What they do know is he’s a psycho killer and mass shooter. If they don’t get him, there is a lot of fear for people living there, and there will be a lot of scared kids returning to campus."

Authorities noted that the Barus and Holley building had a limited number of security cameras at the time of the shooting. The FBI later shared surveillance footage of a person of interest dressed in dark clothing near an intersection northeast of the scene.

The individual has not been located, and police confirmed that another person questioned in the case was later released without charges.

Two students killed as manhunt continues after Brown University shooting

The two students killed in the attack were identified as Ella Cook, from Alabama, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, originally from Uzbekistan and raised in Virginia. Both victims died as a result of gunfire during the study session.

Nine others were injured, and authorities said the wounded were transported to local hospitals for treatment.

Local law enforcement and federal agencies, including the FBI, have been actively canvassing areas around the campus in search of the suspect. The FBI remains involved in the investigation into the Brown University shooting, while the Providence Police Department continues to lead the case, according to a post on X by FBI Director Kash Patel.

Patel said the agency deployed additional resources to the area “to help track down leads, canvass neighborhoods, and develop intelligence,” and confirmed that the Evidence Response Team is still assisting with evidence processing. Forensic investigators dressed in Tyvek suits were also observed searching through a dumpster outside the Barus and Holley building.

Patel added, “Anything Rhode Island authorities need from this FBI, we will be there.”