Victims of the Brown University Shooting and Commending First Responders

WHEREAS, On Saturday afternoon, December 13, 2025, at approximately 4:00 p.m., an act of unimaginable violence unfolded at Brown University when a gunman entered the Barus & Holley Building, home to the University’s School of Engineering and Department of Physics, shooting eleven people and taking the lives of two students, Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov; and

WHEREAS, Ella Cook, an accomplished pianist studying French, mathematics, and economics, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a freshman who aspired to become a neurosurgeon, were taken far too soon in a senseless act that has left their families, friends, and the Brown University community in profound grief; and

WHEREAS, In the moments immediately following the first shots, wounded students lay injured on Manning Walk as chaos spread across the campus, fear replaced routine, and members of the Brown University community fled for safety, uncertain of where danger lay; and

WHEREAS, Providence firefighters and emergency medical personnel ran toward the wounded without hesitation, rendering aid under conditions of extreme uncertainty, even as gunfire continued nearby and the location of the shooter remained unknown; and

WHEREAS, These firefighters worked swiftly and courageously to stop bleeding, stabilize victims, and remove the injured from harm’s way, exemplifying extraordinary composure, professionalism, and devotion to duty; and

WHEREAS, Members of the Providence Fire Department responded under the leadership of Fire Chief Derek M. Silva, including Fire Captain Robert Cataldo, Lieutenant John Faria, and Firefighters Jay Vita and Zack Hannon, along with many others who placed themselves in harm’s way to save lives; and

WHEREAS, Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies responded immediately and worked tirelessly in the hours and days that followed to identify the perpetrator and ensure public safety, under the leadership of Providence Police Chief Colonel Oscar Perez, Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Colonel Darnell S. Weaver, and their federal partners, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and

WHEREAS, Exceptional medical care was provided by doctors, nurses, and medical professionals, particularly at Rhode Island Hospital, where emergency protocols were swiftly implemented and the injured were treated with extraordinary skill, compassion, and resolve, resulting in the survival of those wounded; and

WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island was served with steadiness and integrity by its elected leadership, including Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley and Attorney General Peter Neronha, who worked continuously to support emergency responders, keep the public informed, and provide reassurance during a time of fear and uncertainty; and

WHEREAS, The people of Rhode Island and around the world have the right to be secure in their homes, schools, and communities, and this Senate condemns this and all senseless acts of violence that shatter lives and undermine that fundamental security; and

WHEREAS, To the parents and families who face the unimaginable loss of a child, the people of Rhode Island mourn with you and stand beside you in grief and remembrance; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby honors the memory and lives of Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, extends its deepest condolences to their families and to all those injured and traumatized by the Brown University shooting, and affirms its solidarity with the Brown University community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island commends and honors the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication of the firefighters, emergency medical personnel, law enforcement officers, medical professionals, and public servants who responded with humanity, professionalism, and resilience under extraordinary and dangerous circumstances; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the families of Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov; the Honorable Brett P. Smiley, Mayor of the City of Providence; Attorney General Peter Neronha; Colonel Oscar Perez, Chief of the Providence Police Department; Chief Derek M. Silva of the Providence Fire Department; and Colonel Darnell S. Weaver, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police.