NEED TO KNOW
- One of the two people killed in the mass shooting at Brown University on Saturday, Dec. 13 has been identified
- 19-year-old student Ella Cook was confirmed as one of the victims by Rev. Craig Smalley during a service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Ala., where she attended
- Rev. Craig Smalley described Cook as a “bright light”
One of the two victims killed in the mass shooting at Brown University has been identified.
19-year-old Brown student Ella Cook was confirmed as a victim in the Dec. 13 shooting. Her name was announced during a church service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Ala., where she attended, on Sunday, Dec. 14.
The church’s Rev. Craig Smalley described Cook as a “bright light” as he addressed her death in the service, which was streamed live on Facebook.
“Tragically, one of our parishioners, Ella Cook, was one of those who was killed yesterday,” said Smalley. “She was an incredible, grounded, faithful, bright light. Not only growing up here in the ways… she encouraged and lifted up those around her, but at Brown University. She was an incredible light [there] as well.”
Smalley got emotional as he urged the congregation to pray for Cook’s family during this difficult time. PEOPLE has contacted the Cathedral Church of the Advent and Brown University for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Bing Guan / AFP via Getty
Cook was one of two people killed in the shooting at Brown University, after a gunman entered an engineering building on campus and opened fire at around 4 p.m. local time on Dec. 13. Nine others were injured in the attack.
According to her LinkedIn page, Cook began studying at Brown University in 2024 and planned to conclude her studies in 2028.
Cathedral Church of the Advent Facebook
Although the Providence Police Department had detained a man they initially identified as a “person of interest,” the individual has been released for lack of evidence. “There is no basis to consider him a person of interest,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha.
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In an open letter from Brown University published Sunday, the college wrote in response, “As Providence police continue to lead this investigation, they have informed Brown that they are continuing their search efforts, which includes ongoing coordination with multiple agencies.”
“…We know that this update may prompt numerous questions. This remains an active police investigation, and the University must defer to the Providence Police Department to release information as they deem appropriate…We continue to make every effort to ensure the safety and security of the campus…,” the college concluded.
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