Students file lawsuits against Brown University over deadly campus shooting

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Three Brown University students who survived the December 13 campus shooting have filed lawsuits against the university, claiming officials failed to act on repeated warnings about the gunman and did not implement proper security measures that could have prevented the attack.

The lawsuits, filed in Rhode Island Superior Court, allege the university failed to take reasonable steps to protect students despite warning signs before the attack and cite multiple failures, including negligence.

The three students who filed the lawsuits were among those injured in the attack. Court filings say they suffered both physical and emotional harm and are seeking damages for their injuries.

Derek Lisi, a longtime Brown custodian, said he encountered the alleged shooter multiple times in the weeks leading up to the attack and raised concerns with a campus security guard. He also said he reported the situation to campus security twice.

The students claim the university failed to investigate those reports or increase security presence in the building where the attack later occurred.

The filings state the school did not take meaningful steps to identify the suspect, restrict access, or warn students about a potential threat.

The shooting occurred on December 13, 2025, inside the Barus and Holley Building during a finals exam review session. Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old freshman, were killed and 9 others were wounded.