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.
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — A 19-year-old woman from Carol Stream, Illinois, identified as Giana Dettloff, was killed in a mass shooting in downtown Bloomington on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Eight additional people were injured in the gunfire, bringing the total number of victims to nine, according to authorities.
The shooting occurred in the 100 block of East Division Street, where Dettloff was pronounced dead at the scene. Police and emergency responders continued to investigate as officials worked to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to McLean County Coroner Dr. Kathleen Yoder, Dettloff was found at the scene with fatal gunshot injuries and was pronounced dead in the 100 block of East Division Street.
A preliminary autopsy determined that she died from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and pelvis. Toxicology testing remains pending, and additional findings may be released once the examination process is complete.
Dettloff, 19, was from Carol Stream, a community in the Chicago metropolitan area. Her death has added to the grief surrounding the shooting, which also left several other people injured.
Bloomington police later confirmed that another individual had been shot and sustained non-life-threatening injuries. This updated information brought the total number of shooting victims to nine, including Dettloff.
The victims reportedly range in age from 16 to 22. According to the information released about the incident, those injured and affected include students from various high schools and universities across Illinois.
The shooting has raised serious concern because of the young ages of those involved and the number of people affected. Authorities have not provided further individual details about the eight surviving victims in the information currently available.
Bloomington Police Chief Jamal Simington expressed condolences to Dettloff’s family and friends following her death. He also asked members of the community to respect the family’s privacy as they grieve and begin to cope with the loss.
The request for privacy comes as the investigation continues and the community reacts to the fatal violence in downtown Bloomington.
The Bloomington Police Department continues to investigate the shooting. Authorities are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the gunfire and establish a clearer account of what happened on East Division Street.
Further information about the incident may become available as investigators continue their work. No additional conclusions about the circumstances or responsibility for the shooting should be assumed until confirmed by authorities.
The death of 19-year-old Giana Dettloff represents a heartbreaking loss for her family, friends, and the Carol Stream community. Her life was cut short in a shooting that also injured eight other people, many of them young.
As the investigation continues, thoughts and condolences are with Dettloff’s loved ones and everyone affected by this tragedy. The community now awaits further answers about the violence that took place in downtown Bloomington.
May Giana Dettloff rest in peace.