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.