As the search for a person of interest in the Brown University shooting entered its fifth day, the Providence Police Department released images of an individual who investigators said “was in proximity of the person of interest” on various campus security cameras before and after the deadly attack, reports Baltimore Chronicle. Authorities stated that they wish to speak to this individual, who may have information relevant to the investigation.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha assured the public during a Wednesday news conference, “He will be caught, and it’s just a matter of time before we catch him.” The shooting, which took place on Saturday afternoon, claimed the lives of students Ella Cook, 19, and MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, 18, while nine others were injured.
Police shared three images of the new individual and requested the public’s assistance in locating him. According to Col. Oscar Perez, chief of the Providence Police Department, the individual crossed paths with the person of interest near the intersection of Hope Street and Benevolent Street, less than two blocks from the Barus & Holley engineering building where the shooting occurred.
The person of interest was last seen on security footage at the intersection of Pitman Street and Ives Street, about three blocks east of the building. Investigators confirmed the collection of “physical evidence” and “DNA evidence” without further details.
President Donald Trump criticized Brown University for having few security cameras, questioning the campus surveillance measures in the wake of the attack. University officials said there are over 1,200 cameras across the campus, mainly in high-traffic areas, while many older building sections, such as where the shooting occurred, have limited coverage.
The FBI released video on December 16, 2025, showing a man sought for questioning walking near a police cruiser shortly after the attack. Security footage also captured the individual emerging from campus parking lot 42 near the Barus & Holley building, crossing Hope Street as a police cruiser arrived.
Brown University Police Chief Rodney Chatman noted that no officers were stationed inside the Barus & Holley building at the time, a standard protocol for that academic space. The university has since increased campus security and announced a comprehensive review of safety measures.
Of the nine survivors, one remains in critical but stable condition at Rhode Island Hospital, six are stable, and two have been discharged. Authorities reported hundreds of tips from the public, with nearly 200 still under investigation. They also emphasized that there is no ongoing credible threat, but heightened security measures remain in place.
The FBI described the person of interest as a male, approximately 5’8″ with a stocky build. Investigators continue to rely on public assistance to identify key movements before and after the shooting as part of the ongoing investigation.
Earlier we wrote that Person of Interest Taken into Custody After Fatal Brown University Shooting.
