Six days after the deadly mass shooting at Brown University, the Providence Police Department has reportedly identified a suspect and obtained an arrest warrant.
The breakthrough in the investigation, initially reported by Fox News, is the first sign of progress in the nationwide manhunt for the gunman who stormed the Barus and Holley engineering building on December 13, opening fire on multiple students during their finals-testing week.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the attack claimed the lives of two students – 18-year-old freshman Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov from Uzbekistan and 19-year-old sophomore Ella Cook from Alabama, who served as vice president of the College Republicans. Nine others were seriously wounded with gunshot injuries.
Investigators announced that physical evidence, including DNA recovered from the scene – possibly from shell casings and live rounds – has played a role in finding the suspect.
The suspect, described by the FBI as a stocky male who stands around 5’8″ tall and was dressed in dark clothing, remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous.
Enhanced surveillance videos released earlier this week show the person – believed to be the shooter – casing neighborhoods near campus hours before the attack, walking purposefully along streets like Hope and Benevolent near the campus.
Fox News Correspondent Brooke Taylor posted an update claiming that investigators in the case are also now looking into potential links between the Brown shooting and the recent murder of an MIT professor in Brookline, Massachusetts, about 50 miles away.
The Brown community remains on edge, with classes canceled and multiple vigils held for the victims throughout the past week.
The FBI continues to offer a $50,000 reward for tips leading to the suspect’s arrest and conviction. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Providence Police tip line at 401-272-3121 or submit tips via FBI.gov/BrownUniversityShooting.
The Dallas Express will provide more updates as the investigation develops and more details emerge.
