Brown University reopened for spring 2026 after a deadly December shooting that killed two students and injured nine.

On January 20, 2026, Brown University began its spring semester for the first time since a shooting in the Barus and Holley Building on December 13 left two students dead—sophomore Ella Cook and freshman Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov—and nine injured. Following a six-day manhunt that covered Rhode Island and Massachusetts, the suspect, 48-year-old Claudio Neves Valente, passed away in New Hampshire. Returning students reported continued emotional and psychological difficulties, with many finding it difficult to cope with increased security and unresolved trauma. As part of its rehabilitation efforts, the university still offers support services and counseling.