Second Brown University shooting victim ID’d as Uzbek international student
The second student killed in the Brown University shooting has been identified as Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old immigrant from Uzbekistan who was widely described as a gifted and compassionate young man with dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon.
Officials and family members said Umurzokov was attending a final exam review session Saturday afternoon when an unidentified gunman opened fire inside an engineering building on campus.
His identity was confirmed Monday morning by U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick.
Umurzokov had come to the United States with his family in 2011 and later became a naturalized citizen, according to his sisters, who spoke with The New York Times. The family settled in Virginia, where Umurzokov excelled academically and earned a scholarship to attend Brown University.
Described by loved ones as both “gentle” and outgoing, Umurzokov worked summer shifts at Wawa to save enough money to buy a new laptop ahead of the school year, his sisters Rukhsora Umurzokova, 22, and Samara Umurzokova, 15, said.
They added that he chose Brown largely because the Ivy League school offered him the strongest financial aid package.
“He was incredibly kind, funny, and smart. He had big dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon and helping people,” his family wrote in a GoFundMe post. “He continues to be our biggest role model in every aspect of life.”
The family added that Umurzokov was always quick to help others and was known for his generosity and warm heart. “Our family is incredibly devastated by this loss,” the post said.
In a social media tribute, the American Uzbekistan Association described Umurzokov as a young man with a “sharp intellect, kind heart, and quiet willingness to help anyone in need.”
“His curiosity, discipline, and generosity reflected both his character and the values of the community that raised him,” the group said, calling him “bright and promising.”
Umurzokov was one of two students fatally shot during the weekend study session. The other victim was identified as 19-year-old sophomore Ella Cook, the vice president of Brown University’s College Republican club.
Nine additional people were injured in the attack.
Authorities briefly detained a person of interest Sunday morning but later released them, saying no arrest had been made. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha warned Sunday night that the suspect remains at large.
“We have a murderer out there,” Neronha said.
Umurzokov’s roommate, Khimari Manns, told WPRI that he was still struggling to process the tragedy. Manns said he tried texting Umurzokov after the shooting but never received a response.
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