On Saturday December 13th, there was a school shooting at Ivy League school, Brown University. Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, from Virginia, and Ella Cook, 19 from Alabama, are the two victims who tragically lost their lives with 9 others being injured. This attack took place in the afternoon around 4 pm in the Barus & Holley engineering building full of students preparing for final exams before the winter break. Students were barricaded in rooms for hours until the campus was cleared for students to return to dorms.
Currently only one arrest has been made but they have since been released from custody in connection to the deadly shooting while police continue the search for the gunman. Security footage of the surrounding area has been released in hopes that the public gives tips on who the possible shooter is.
Since the shooting, Brown’s campus is filled with unimaginable grief and reflection. A vigil was help to honor those who tragically lost their lives, and mourn a space that should be safe for the learning and growth of students. Many shared memories of victims and the strong sense of community. Frustration was also expressed over security issues within the building.. This has brought awareness to emergency management protocols which may have prevented this tragedy.
Now this is not the first time a deadly school shooting has taken place. Gun violence continues to be an issue in our country with no changes towards it. This should be a wake up call to our government to bring change so students don’t have to fear going to school. Getting an education should not be something risky as a result of guns being easily accessible. An increase of security could also help in preventing future tragedies from starting.
Some Brown University students who have gone through school shootings have exclaimed their emotions in having to relive such a traumatic experience in their life again. Students and survivors are recommended to reach out for mental health resources and advocate for policy changes in order to prevent a future tragedy.
The event at Brown University is a devastating reminder that gun violence continues to spread in schools,universities and communities in the United States. Two lives have been lost, and others are left to recover from this event physically and psychologically.
Gun violence will only stop not only through the mourning of those lost, but through action of a policy reform to ensure that educational environments and spaces for all are kept safe.
