The Brown University community is grieving the tragic loss of two exceptional students following a deadly campus shooting in Providence, Rhode Island. Ella Cook, a second-year student and vice-president of the College Republicans, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a first-year scholarship recipient aspiring to become a neurosurgeon, were fatally shot during an attack that also injured nine other students on Saturday.
Ella Cook, remembered as an accomplished pianist and academically outstanding student, was attending an economics review session when a masked gunman entered her classroom. Martin Bertao, president of the College Republicans of America, described Cook as possessing a “bold, brave and kind heart” in his tribute. The Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama, near Cook’s hometown, held a vigil honoring her as an “incredible grounded, faithful, bright light.” Political figures including Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed their heartbreak over her death.
Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a gifted scholar who overcame significant health challenges, had aspired to become a neurosurgeon since undergoing brain surgery as a child. His sister revealed to the Washington Post that he took every Advanced Placement class available in high school and worked at a convenience store to purchase a laptop. The American Uzbekistan Association noted that Umurzokov “carried himself with humility and compassion” and had “a future filled with promise.
The shooting has reignited discussions about gun violence in American educational institutions as the university community gathers for candlelight vigils and memorial services. Both families have received outpouring support from their respective communities and beyond, with tributes highlighting the exceptional promise and character of both young victims.