More than 30 hours after a deadly classroom shooting at Brown University, the search for the gunman remains unresolved, with investigators conceding that only a single piece of video evidence exists despite the campus being covered by more than 800 cameras.
Authorities went door to door across Providence on Monday seeking additional surveillance footage, after releasing a previously detained person of interest and concluding that evidence pointed in a different direction. The shooter was last seen more than two days ago, walking away from the engineering building where two students were killed and nine others wounded.
The setback has intensified scrutiny of campus security and raised concerns that early focus on a person of interest may have cost investigators critical time.
One video, no face
Police have confirmed that the only available footage shows a man of medium build walking away from the scene shortly after the shooting. The clip, released soon after the attack, captures the suspect from behind, with no view of his face.
Investigators said no other video of the shooter has been recovered. Officials acknowledged that the engineering building where the attack occurred is an old structure with limited camera coverage, even though the wider campus is equipped with hundreds of surveillance devices.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said the clip already made public remained investigators’ strongest visual lead. “The clearest picture we have of the individual we believe to be responsible. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t other evidence.” He added: “There was still a lot of evidence collected at the crime scene and throughout the investigation over the last nearly two days.”
Person of interest released, confusion follows
Early optimism that a breakthrough had been made proved short-lived. On Sunday morning, a man from Wisconsin was taken into custody at a hotel outside Providence after tips were received, prompting officials to lift a campus lockdown.
However, hours later, Mayor Smiley said investigators did not know whether the gunman was still in the area. State Attorney General Peter Neronha later confirmed that while some evidence initially pointed to the detained man, further investigation shifted attention elsewhere.
“We have a murderer out there,” Neronha said.
The individual was released without charge, but his name was leaked and he was subjected to intense scrutiny on social media. Authorities have not publicly identified him.
Victims remembered as campus remains uneasy
The shooting took place inside an auditorium-style classroom as students gathered for a study session ahead of final exams. One of those killed was Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore and vice-president of the Brown College Republicans, who was active in her church in Birmingham, Alabama.
Her pastor, the Rev. R. Craig Smalley, described her as “an incredible grounded, faithful, bright light” who encouraged and “lifted up those around her.”
“Ella was known for her bold, brave, and kind heart as she served her chapter and her fellow classmates,” Martin Bertao, president of the club, said in a post on X.
The second victim, MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old freshman majoring in biochemistry and neuroscience, was helping a friend prepare for an economics exam when he was shot. His sister said he had overcome serious health challenges in childhood after his family immigrated from Uzbekistan.
“He had so many hardships in his life, and he got into this amazing school and tried so hard to follow through with the promise he made when was 7 years old,” Samira Umurzokova said.
Security questions and wider fallout
Investigators said the gunman fired more than 40 rounds from a 9mm handgun. It remains unclear how he gained access to the first-floor classroom. During the hours-long lockdown, students barricaded themselves in rooms as hundreds of officers searched nearby streets.
Li Ding, a Rhode Island School of Design student who dances at Brown, criticised the apparent failure of surveillance systems. “The fact that we’re in such a surveillance state but that wasn’t used correctly at all is just so deeply frustrating,” she said.
One wounded student has since been discharged from hospital, while others remain in critical but stable condition. Mayor Smiley said he was struck by their resilience. “The resilience that these survivors showed and shared with me, is frankly pretty overwhelming,” he said.
As the manhunt continues, the absence of usable camera footage has emerged as one of the most troubling aspects of an investigation still searching for answers.
(With inputs from agencies)
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