FBI Releases New Images Of Suspect In Brown Univ Shooting; Second Victim An Uzbek-Origin Student

Last Updated:December 16, 2025, 09:14 IST

FBI is offering a reward of up to £40,000 (around $50,000) for information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of the suspect.

A person mourns at a makeshift memorial outside the Barus & Holley engineering building on the campus of Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island. (IMAGE: AFP)

The FBI and the Providence Police Department in Rhode Island have released new photographs of a person of interest as the search continues for the suspect linked to the shooting at Brown University. The shooting happened on Saturday, 14 December. Authorities are asking the public to help as the investigation moves forward.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the release of the images in a post on X on Monday. He said the FBI is offering a reward of up to £40,000 (around $50,000) for information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of the suspect. Members of the public with any information are urged to contact the FBI or the Providence Police Department.

#BREAKING: The FBI and @ProvidenceRIPD are releasing new images of a person of interest in the mass shooting at Brown University on 12/13/25. The #FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the individual.… pic.twitter.com/OhpnsN9fds— FBI Boston (@FBIBoston) December 15, 2025

Person of interest still goes unidentified

The newly released images are believed to be taken from dash cam footage shared earlier by Providence Police. In the photos, a person can be seen wearing a green jacket and a black face mask. The images are unclear and the face is mostly covered, making it difficult to identify the individual.

Many people on social media have criticised the quality of the photos, saying they are too blurred to be useful. Despite this, investigators hope someone may still recognise clothing, body shape or movement.

On Sunday, a man named Benjamin Erickson was taken into custody as a person of interest. After questioning, he was cleared and released. Police have since widened the manhunt and say the suspect remains at large.

Second victim a Uzbek origin

The second victim of the shooting has been identified as 18-year-old Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov. His identity was confirmed by his two sisters, who live in Midlothian, Virginia. Umurzokov was an immigrant from Uzbekistan and became a naturalised US citizen with his family after they arrived in the country in 2011.

He had dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon. Friends and family said this goal was inspired by his own health struggles. Umurzokov lived with Chiari malformation, a condition where spinal fluid puts pressure on the brain and spinal cord.

Those who knew Umurzokov described him as kind, intelligent and driven. His high school friend Maddox Johnson said he was friendly with everyone and always willing to help. Johnson also recalled how Umurzokov pushed his school to offer more advanced physics classes after completing the highest level available.

A post from the US Vice President described him as a brilliant young man with a dream of helping others, and offered prayers for all those affected by the tragedy.

“It looks like the second victim in the Brown shooting has been identified, a brilliant young man who dreamed of being a surgeon. May God rest the soul of MuhammadAziz Umurzakov. Say a prayer for everyone affected by this terrible tragedy, right before Christmas," reads JD Vance’s post on X.

Police and the FBI continue to ask anyone with information, no matter how small it may seem, to come forward. Investigators say public support could be key to bringing the suspect to justice and helping the community heal during a painful time just before Christmas.

News world FBI Releases New Images Of Suspect In Brown Univ Shooting; Second Victim An Uzbek-Origin Student

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