Brown University Shooting Leaves 2 Dead, Gunman Still at Large

Criminal profiler calls campus a "soft target" with limited security

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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A gunman opened fire during a weekend study session at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, killing two students and injuring nine more. The unidentified shooter remains at large, with authorities describing the campus as a "soft target" with unsecured doors and limited security cameras. A criminal profiler said the shooter was likely familiar with the area, organized, and "very comfortable with a semiautomatic" weapon.

Why it matters

The shooting at the elite Ivy League campus is the latest in a string of mass shootings to grip the United States, raising concerns about campus safety and security vulnerabilities. The fact that the gunman remains at large has heightened fears among the Brown community and sparked a wider investigation.

The details

According to authorities, the unidentified gunman barged into a lecture hall at Brown University around 4 p.m. on Saturday, opening fire and killing two students - Ella Cook, 19, from Alabama, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Virginia. Nine other students were injured in the attack. Surveillance video released by the FBI shows a person of interest wearing dark clothes at an intersection near the crime scene, but the shooter remains at large. A criminal profiler cited the campus's unsecured doors, limited security cameras, and the shooter's familiarity with the area as factors that made Brown University a "soft target" for the attack.

  • The shooting occurred around 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 11, 2026.
  • The FBI released surveillance video on Monday, February 13, 2026.
  • As of Monday afternoon, the gunman remained at large.

The players

John Kelly

A criminal profiler and the president of STALK Inc.

Ella Cook

A 19-year-old student from Alabama who was killed in the shooting.

Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov

A naturalized U.S. citizen from Virginia who was killed in the shooting.

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What they’re saying

“College was a soft target — doors open and no security. The killer was familiar with the area, enraged, probably at the college or engineering program. Organized. Dressed for the occasion — and very comfortable with a semiautomatic.”

— John Kelly, Criminal profiler and president of STALK Inc.

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the person of interest questioned by police to be released on bail.

The takeaway

The shooting at Brown University highlights the ongoing challenges colleges and universities face in ensuring campus safety and security, especially in the face of determined and well-prepared attackers. This incident will likely spur renewed discussions about gun control, mental health resources, and the need for more robust security measures on college campuses across the country.