19-year-old sophomore identified as Brown University shooting victim: ‘Bright light’

YOU NEED TO KNOW

• One of the two people killed in the mass shooting at Brown University on Saturday, December 13 has been identified.

• 19-year-old student Ella Cook was confirmed as one of the victims by Rev. Craig Smalley during a service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Ala., where she attended.

• Rev. Craig Smalley described Cook as a “bright light”

One of the two victims killed in the mass shooting at Brown University has been identified.

19-year-old Brown student Ella Cook has been confirmed as a victim in the Dec. 13 shooting. Her name was announced during a church service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Ala., where she attended, on Sunday, December 14.

Rev. Craig Smalley of the church described Cook as a “bright light” as he addressed her death in the service, which was broadcast live on Facebook.

“Tragically, one of our parishioners, Ella Cook, was one of those killed yesterday,” said Smalley. “She was an incredible, grounded, faithful, bright light. Not only did she grow up here in the ways…she encouraged and uplifted those around her, but at Brown University. She was an incredible light. [there] too.”

Smalley became emotional as he urged the congregation to pray for Cook’s family during this difficult time. PEOPLE reached out to the Cathedral Church of the Advent and Brown University for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Cook was one of two people killed in the shooting at Brown University, after a gunman entered an engineering building on campus and opened fire around 4 pm local time on December 13. Nine others were injured in the attack.

According to her LinkedIn page, Cook began studying at Brown University in 2024 and planned to finish her studies in 2028.

Although the Providence Police Department had detained a man they initially identified as a “person of interest,” the individual was released due to lack of evidence. “There is no basis to be considered a person of interest,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha.

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In an open letter from Brown University published Sunday, the college wrote in response, “As Providence police continue to lead this investigation, they have informed Brown that they are continuing their search efforts, which includes ongoing coordination with multiple agencies.”

“…We know that this update may raise many questions. This remains an active police investigation, and the University must defer to the Providence Police Department to release the information as they see fit… We continue to make every effort to ensure the safety and security of the campus…” concluded the college.

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