Crime
Ella Cook identified as one of the two victims killed in Brown University shooting
Providence, R.I. — One of the victims killed in Saturday’s mass shooting at Brown University has been publicly identified as Ella Cook, a sophomore from Alabama, according to her church and university community.
Cook, a member of Cathedral Church of the Advent in downtown Birmingham, is being remembered as a deeply faithful, compassionate, and uplifting presence whose impact extended well beyond the classroom.
Church leaders confirmed that Cook was among the two people fatally shot when a gunman opened fire inside an engineering building on Brown’s campus Saturday afternoon.
Speaking during Sunday morning services, Rev. Craig Smalley described Cook as a “bright light” whose character and kindness left a lasting impression on those around her.
“Tragically, one of our parishioners, Ella Cook, was one of those who was killed yesterday,” Smalley told the congregation. “Those of you who knew her know she was an incredible, grounded, faithful bright light — not only here at the Advent, in the many ways she served and encouraged others, but also at Brown University, where she was an incredible light in that community as well.”
Smalley urged parishioners to keep Cook’s family, friends, and the wider Brown University community in their prayers as they mourn the loss.
The shooting occurred shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday inside a campus engineering building, at a time when final examinations were underway — one of the busiest periods of the academic year.
In addition to the two fatalities, nine students were wounded. University officials said seven victims remain hospitalized in critical but stable condition, one is in critical condition, and one student has been treated and released.
Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez said Sunday that no charges have been filed and that the investigation remains active.
He declined to comment on whether a previously detained individual had any connection to Brown University.
Authorities confirmed that a person of interest, Benjamin Warren Erickson, who was taken into custody at a Hampton Inn hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, approximately 20 miles from Providence, has since been released.
Mayor Brett Smiley and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said investigators initially pursued leads that appeared to point to Erickson, but those leads later proved incorrect.
“There was some degree of evidence that pointed to this individual,” Neronha said, “but that evidence now points in a different direction.” He also acknowledged the serious consequences of the premature disclosure of Erickson’s name, calling it “really unfortunate” and noting that such information is difficult to retract once made public.
Law enforcement emphasized that Erickson is not believed to be involved, and that the gunman remains at large.
Officials have not released additional details about the suspect or the victims, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
As Brown University continues to grapple with the aftermath of the attack, tributes to Ella Cook have poured in from classmates, faculty, and members of her church community, all describing a young woman whose faith, warmth, and generosity of spirit touched many lives.
University and local officials said further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Crime
Genesis Jones and Dominic Jackson killed after mass shooting in Richmond Shockoe Bottom neighborhood
Richmond, Va. — Richmond Police Department Chief Rick Edwards confirmed that nine adults were shot during a deadly early morning incident in the Shockoe Bottom neighborhood that investigators believe began as a physical altercation before escalating into gunfire.
According to Chief Edwards, an officer assigned to the area shortly after 2:45 a.m. observed what appeared to be a large fight in progress, with vehicles traveling at high speeds nearby.
Within seconds, the officer encountered an adult female suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The victim was later identified by family members as 23-year-old Genesis Jones of Petersburg. Relatives stated she had been in Shockoe Bottom celebrating her brother’s birthday when gunfire erupted.
Sources indicated that Jones was not involved in the altercation and is believed to have been an innocent bystander walking through the area when she was struck.
Officers subsequently located a second victim, identified as 42-year-old Dominic Jackson of Henrico, who was also suffering from a gunshot wound. He, too, was pronounced dead at the scene.
In addition to the two fatalities, officers found four other individuals with what were initially described as non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.
They were transported to area hospitals by the Richmond Ambulance Authority. Authorities later determined that three additional individuals arrived at local hospitals by private vehicle seeking treatment.
In total, seven surviving victims were hospitalized.
Police reported that one adult male remains in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, while the remaining six sustained injuries not considered life-threatening. All nine victims are adults ranging in age from 23 to 42.
Chief Edwards stated that preliminary findings indicate a fight broke out in the middle of the street in the 000 block of North 18th Street.
Individuals reportedly intervened in the altercation, at which point multiple people began firing weapons.
The shooting prompted the closure of several streets in the Shockoe Bottom area as investigators processed what officials described as a large and complex crime scene.
Roadways were blocked from 17th and Main streets to 19th and Main streets, as well as around 18th and Franklin streets. Bullet damage was visible on multiple vehicles, indicating collateral impact from the gunfire.
Forensic teams are expected to remain on scene for an extended period collecting evidence. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and other technological resources to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Detectives are also conducting witness interviews and examining damaged vehicles as part of the ongoing investigation.
At this time, authorities have not released information regarding any suspects.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact Major Crimes Detective J. DeBoard at 804-646-6795 or call Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000. Tips may also be submitted anonymously through the P3 Tips Crime Stoppers mobile application.