‘We have a murderer out there’: FBI offers massive $50k reward as more videos of the Brown University killer are released

Law enforcement is urgently seeking new leads in the deadly Brown University shooting, announcing a substantial reward of up to $50,000 from the FBI for information that leads to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the killer. This massive reward comes as police continue their manhunt for the person responsible for killing two students and wounding nine others in the horrific attack that Trump brushed off, which took place on Saturday, December 13, 2025.

The Providence Chief of Police, Col. Oscar Perez, is desperate for the public’s help. On Monday, he released additional videos and images showing a person of interest dressed entirely in black and wearing a face mask. You can see this individual walking near the area of Hope and Benevolent streets. According to Chief Perez, these videos were captured around 2:00 PM on Saturday, which is about two hours before the first 911 call came in reporting the violence, per CBS.

Chief Perez noted that officials believe this is the same person shown in surveillance footage released previously. That earlier video showed a man walking down Waterman Street in Providence just after 4:00 PM on Saturday, wearing a similar outfit. If you recognize this individual, you absolutely need to reach out to the tip line at 401-272-3121.

Help the police find this killer

Rhode Island officials are making it clear just how high the stakes are. Governor Dan McKee said on Monday that he wants the individual who pulled the trigger on these young kids identified, apprehended, and brought to justice, just like everyone else does. Attorney General Peter Neronha was even more direct about the danger the community faces. “We have a murderer out there,” he stated Sunday night.

The renewed focus on the anonymous person in the black clothing follows a significant setback for the investigation. Authorities had detained a 24-year-old man on Sunday morning at a Hampton Inn in Coventry, about 20 miles from the campus, believing he was a person of interest. However, police subsequently determined that the evidence pointed “in a different direction” and released him, leaving law enforcement without a known suspect.

This development can be frustrating for the public, but Chief Perez defended the process. He told reporters, “We followed on a lead. And we followed on a specific lead… That’s how investigations work.” Attorney General Neronha echoed that sentiment, explaining that while there was some initial evidence pointing toward the detained individual, that evidence needed corroboration. He said, “I’ve been around long enough to know that sometimes you head in one direction and then you have to regroup and go in another, and that’s exactly what has happened over the last 24 hours or so.” It’s tough, but you’ve got to respect them for following the evidence wherever it leads, even if it means starting over.

The shooting itself was brutal. The gunman opened fire inside a classroom in the engineering building, unloading more than 40 rounds from a 9 mm handgun. The two students tragically killed were identified as Ella Cook, a sophomore from Alabama, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, an Uzbek American student.

The nine injured victims were rushed to Rhode Island Hospital. As of Monday, one patient has been discharged, but six remain in critical stable condition, and one is still listed in critical condition. Mayor Brett Smiley spoke with four of the survivors and expressed how impressed he was. He said, “The resilience that these survivors showed and shared with me is frankly pretty overwhelming.” That’s a top-tier show of strength from those young people, considering everything they’ve been through.

While the shelter-in-place order was lifted on Sunday morning, the campus remains deeply affected, especially after the president’s harsh words. Brown University, one of the nation’s most prestigious colleges, canceled the remaining classes and exams for the semester. Mayor Smiley urged the community to stay vigilant and submit any information, including video or photo evidence, that could help authorities finally pinpoint this killer.