Law enforcement agencies have released a fresh batch of surveillance images and videos depicting the suspected gunman in the deadly mass shooting at Brown University, showing him loitering and standing for prolonged periods near the campus entrance and iron gates in the hours leading up to the December 13, 2025, attack. The footage, captured from residential doorbell cameras and street surveillance in the College Hill neighborhood, portrays a stocky individual dressed in dark clothing, a beanie, and a face mask, appearing to survey the area deliberately before vanishing into the crowd.
The new visuals, disseminated by the Providence Police Department and the FBI on December 16, provide the clearest glimpse yet of the fugitive’s premeditated movements. One particularly striking still image shows the suspect standing motionless for an extended time beside the iconic Van Wickle Gates—the historic main entrance to Brown University—gazing toward the campus as students and faculty passed by unaware. Other clips capture him pacing slowly along sidewalks near Hope Street and Benevolent Street, hands clasped behind his back, repeatedly looking around in a manner authorities describe as “casing the area.”
“This individual was not just passing through,” Providence Police Chief Colonel Oscar Perez stated during a press conference. “The behavior—lingering at the gate, scanning the surroundings, avoiding main paths—suggests reconnaissance. He spent hours in the vicinity, from as early as 10:30 a.m., more than five hours before opening fire.”
The attack occurred around 4:05 p.m. in the Barus and Holley Building, home to the School of Engineering and physics department. During a crowded final exam review session in a first-floor lecture hall, the lone gunman burst in and fired indiscriminately with a 9mm handgun, killing two students and wounding nine others before fleeing on foot. The victims were identified as MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old freshman from Virginia aspiring to become a neurosurgeon, and Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore from Alabama, a gifted pianist and vice president of the Brown College Republicans. Both were remembered by peers as exceptionally kind and ambitious young people whose lives were senselessly cut short.
The newly released images mark a significant escalation in the manhunt, now entering its fifth day as of December 17. The FBI has upped its reward to $50,000 for information leading to the suspect’s identification, arrest, and conviction, urging the public to scrutinize details like his distinctive gait—a slight waddle noted by body language experts—and posture. “Even if you think it’s minor, call it in,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks. “His walk, the way he stands, the clothes—someone knows this person.”
Investigators believe the shooter specifically targeted Brown University, though no motive has been established. Speculation has ranged from personal grievances to ideological factors, given Cook’s role in conservative campus activities, but officials have cautioned against unsubstantiated theories. A surviving witness who recently awoke from surgery added intrigue, telling authorities from his hospital bed that the gunman “wasn’t a stranger” and had been on or around campus previously.
The pre-attack footage reveals a calculated approach. Starting mid-morning, the suspect is seen wandering residential streets adjacent to campus, steering clear of busy thoroughfares. By early afternoon—around 2 p.m.—he is captured near the Van Wickle Gates, standing idly for minutes, observing the flow of people entering and exiting. Additional clips show him near the Rhode Island Historical Society building and private homes on Manning Street, pausing frequently as if mapping routes.
Body language analysts consulted by media outlets described the behavior as classic signs of surveillance: pacing, hands behind back, frequent environmental scans. “This isn’t someone in a hurry,” one expert noted. “It’s deliberate, assessing vulnerabilities—like unlocked doors during exam week traffic.”
Brown’s campus layout, integrated into a residential neighborhood, complicated real-time tracking. The Barus and Holley Building’s doors were accessible due to high foot traffic, and campus cameras lost sight of the suspect once he stepped onto public sidewalks. Post-attack videos show him calmly walking past arriving police cruisers, blending into the chaos.
The release has generated a flood of tips, with hotlines overwhelmed. Door-to-door canvassing continues, yielding more footage that pieced together his timeline. Authorities are also reviewing records for anyone matching the description—approximately 5’8″ with a stocky build—who may have prior campus connections.
For the Brown community, the images have deepened the sense of violation. Vigils at the Van Wickle Gates, now adorned with flowers, photos of Umurzokov and Cook, and messages of defiance, draw thousands nightly. Exams were canceled, classes moved online, and early winter break encouraged. President Christina Paxson addressed the trauma head-on: “Seeing him standing at our gates, watching us—it’s chilling. But we will not let fear define us.”
Mental health resources have been expanded, with counseling sessions packed. Survivors recount hiding under desks, shielding others, and the terror of gunfire echoing in the stadium-style classroom. One injured student credited high school active shooter drills with saving lives.
Nationally, the incident—part of a grim 2025 tally exceeding 390 mass shootings—has reignited calls for gun reform and campus security enhancements. Rhode Island leaders vowed reviews of access protocols, while neighboring universities heightened alerts.
As the manhunt widens beyond Providence—potentially statewide or interstate—officials remain optimistic. “We’re closing in,” Attorney General Peter Neronha affirmed. “These images are powerful. Someone will recognize him.”
The suspect remains armed and dangerous, his lingering stare at the gates a haunting prelude to horror. Yet in memorials and resolve, the community channels grief into hope: justice for two promising lives stolen, and prevention of the next tragedy.
Brown endures, gates open once more, but forever changed.