‘A bright light’: Brown University students identified as victims in campus shooting

The two victims killed in Saturday’s shooting at Brown University have been identified as students at the Ivy League school, Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov.

Cook, a Brown student and a parishioner at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama, was named as one of those killed.

The church’s Rev. Craig Smalley announced Cook’s death in his service on Sunday morning, calling Cook “incredibly grounded and generous and faithful” and a “bright light” in the church and in her community.

“Many of you heard about the tragedy, which happened at Brown University. … And sadly, tragically, one of those people is one of our parishioners,” Smalley said during the service.

“She was engaged and involved in our worship and in our community, and as she served here at the church and in the wider community, in all sincerity, just a tremendous and bright light in there at Brown University as well, in the time that she was there, was such a light and such a witness,” Smalley added.

The second victim killed in the attack was identified on Monday as Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov of Uzbekistan, who was a student at the university, according to Jonathan Henick, the U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan.

“I am deeply saddened by reports of the tragic death of Brown University student Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov on December 13,” Henick said in a statement. “We extend our sincere condolences to Mr. Umurzokov’s family, friends, and fellow students and mourn the loss of his bright future.”

Nine others were injured in the attack, officials said.

In his sermon on Sunday, Smalley remembered Cook as being “incredibly grounded and generous and faithful and bright light.”

“Over many years, as she was engaged and involved in our worship and in our community, and as she served here at the church and in the wider community, in all sincerity, just a tremendous, a tremendous and bright light in there at Brown University as well, in the time that she was there was such a light and such a witness,” Smalley said.

Cook was also vice president of the Brown University College Republicans, Martin Bertao, president of College Republicans of America, said in a social media post.

“Ella was known for her bold, brave, and kind heart as she served her chapter and her fellow classmates,” Bertao said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also posted a statement about Cook on social media, writing, “There are no words. Thinking of her family and friends, especially her parents. God please bless them.”

The tragedy began unfolding around 4:05 p.m. when police received a call from Brown University about an active shooter incident near the engineering building. The university alerted students and faculty to shelter in place shortly after.

Brown University President Christina H. Paxson released a letter after the shooting, saying, “This is a deeply tragic day for Brown, our families and our local community.”

“There are truly no words that can express the deep sorrow we are feeling for the victims of the shooting that took place today at the Barus & Holley engineering and physics building.”

According to police, the gunman fled the campus. A person of interest was detained and then released by police on Sunday.

No charges have been filed yet in the case, and police have not commented on a possible motive.

The two victims killed in Saturday’s shooting at Brown University have been identified as students at the Ivy League school, Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov.

Cook, a Brown student and a parishioner at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama, was named as one of those killed.

The church’s Rev. Craig Smalley announced Cook’s death in his service on Sunday morning, calling Cook “incredibly grounded and generous and faithful” and a “bright light” in the church and in her community.

“Many of you heard about the tragedy, which happened at Brown University. … And sadly, tragically, one of those people is one of our parishioners,” Smalley said during the service.

“She was engaged and involved in our worship and in our community, and as she served here at the church and in the wider community, in all sincerity, just a tremendous and bright light in there at Brown University as well, in the time that she was there, was such a light and such a witness,” Smalley added.

The second victim killed in the attack was identified on Monday as Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov of Uzbekistan, who was a student at the university, according to Jonathan Henick, the U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan.

“I am deeply saddened by reports of the tragic death of Brown University student Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov on December 13,” Henick said in a statement. “We extend our sincere condolences to Mr. Umurzokov’s family, friends, and fellow students and mourn the loss of his bright future.”

Nine others were injured in the attack, officials said.

In his sermon on Sunday, Smalley remembered Cook as being “incredibly grounded and generous and faithful and bright light.”

“Over many years, as she was engaged and involved in our worship and in our community, and as she served here at the church and in the wider community, in all sincerity, just a tremendous, a tremendous and bright light in there at Brown University as well, in the time that she was there was such a light and such a witness,” Smalley said.

Cook was also vice president of the Brown University College Republicans, Martin Bertao, president of College Republicans of America, said in a social media post.

“Ella was known for her bold, brave, and kind heart as she served her chapter and her fellow classmates,” Bertao said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also posted a statement about Cook on social media, writing, “There are no words. Thinking of her family and friends, especially her parents. God please bless them.”

The tragedy began unfolding around 4:05 p.m. when police received a call from Brown University about an active shooter incident near the engineering building. The university alerted students and faculty to shelter in place shortly after.

Brown University President Christina H. Paxson released a letter after the shooting, saying, “This is a deeply tragic day for Brown, our families and our local community.”

“There are truly no words that can express the deep sorrow we are feeling for the victims of the shooting that took place today at the Barus & Holley engineering and physics building.”

According to police, the gunman fled the campus. A person of interest was detained and then released by police on Sunday.

No charges have been filed yet in the case, and police have not commented on a possible motive.