One of the victims killed in Saturday’s shooting at Brown University has been identified as Ella Cook, a Brown student and parishioner at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama.
The church’s Rev. Craig Smalley announced Cook’s death at his service Sunday morning, calling Cook “incredibly grounded, generous and faithful” and a “bright light” in the church and in her community.
“Many of you heard about the tragedy that occurred at Brown University…And sadly, tragically, one of those people is one of our parishioners,” Smalley said during the service.
“She was committed and involved in our worship and in our community, and while she served here in the church and in the community at large, in all sincerity, a tremendous, bright light there at Brown University as well, in the time that she was there, she was a light and a testimony,” Smalley added.
Cook was one of two people killed in the deadly shooting at the Ivy League school Saturday afternoon in a campus building where exams were being held, according to university officials.
One of the victims killed in Saturday’s shooting at Brown University has been identified by her church as Ella Cook.
Advent Cathedral Church
Nine other people were injured in the brazen attack, authorities said.
And for those of you who knew her, who know her, she was an incredibly strong, generous, faithful, bright light, both here in Advent, for many years, while she was engaged and involved in our worship and in our community, and while she served here in the church and in the community at large, in all sincerity, just a tremendous, tremendous, bright light there at Brown University as well, in the time that she was there, there was such a light and such a testimony.”
The tragedy began to unfold around 4:05 p.m. when police received a call from Brown University about an active shooter incident near the engineering building. The university alerted students and faculty to shelter in place shortly afterward.
Emergency personnel gather on Waterman Street at Brown University in Providence, RI, on December 13, 2025.
Mark Stockwell/AP
Brown University President Christina H. Paxson released a letter after the shooting saying, “This is a deeply tragic day for Brown, our families, and our local community.”
“There are really no words that can express the deep pain we feel for the victims of the shooting that occurred today in Barús. & Holley Engineering and Physics Building.”
According to police, the gunman fled the campus, but on Sunday morning they said a person of interest, whose name was not released, was detained at a hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island.
No charges have yet been filed in the case and police have not commented on a possible motive.
