In Loving Memory of Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook
The Brown University community, the city of Providence, and countless hearts beyond are united in grief following the tragic and senseless loss of Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook, whose lives were taken during a mass shooting inside a Brown University engineering building on Saturday afternoon, December 13, shortly before 4 p.m. What should have been a place of learning, innovation, and shared purpose was transformed into a scene of unimaginable sorrow, leaving behind a campus and a community forever changed.
Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook were more than victims of a violent act—they were individuals filled with promise, intellect, and humanity. They walked the halls of a world-class institution driven by curiosity, ambition, and the hope of building a better future. Their presence enriched the lives of classmates, professors, friends, and loved ones, and their absence now leaves an unfillable void.
Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov was known for his dedication, perseverance, and quiet strength. His journey was one marked by hard work and determination, shaped by dreams that stretched far beyond the classroom. Those who knew him remember his thoughtful nature, his willingness to help others, and the way he carried himself with humility and purpose. His life reflected the spirit of learning and growth that universities strive to cultivate, and his loss is felt deeply by all who crossed his path.
Ella Cook was a bright and compassionate soul whose warmth could light up a room. She was admired not only for her intelligence, but for her kindness, empathy, and genuine care for those around her. Ella had a way of making people feel seen and valued, whether through a smile, a conversation, or a simple act of friendship. Her future was filled with promise, and the dreams she carried will forever live on in the hearts of those who loved her.
The violence that claimed their lives has shaken the very foundation of a community built on knowledge, safety, and shared humanity. No family should ever receive such devastating news. No friends should have to grieve futures that will never unfold. And no campus should have to mourn lives stolen in a place meant to nurture hope and discovery.
As Providence and the Brown University community come together in mourning, there is also a collective call for compassion, reflection, and unity. In the face of such profound loss, we honor Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook by remembering who they were, not how they died—by speaking their names, sharing their stories, and holding one another closer in the days ahead.
May their memories be a blessing. May their families find strength amid unimaginable pain. And may Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook rest in eternal peace, forever remembered, forever loved, and never forgotten. 🕊️
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