MAGA influencers ignited a firestorm by claiming a Brown University shooting targeted a Republican leader, but zero evidence backs their rush to blame left-wing assassins.
Story Snapshot
- An active shooter killed Ella Cook, Brown Republican Club vice president, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzako on December 13, 2025, injuring nine others on campus.
- Conservative voices like Benny Johnson and James Woods pushed unsubstantiated political motive theories within hours, amid an FBI manhunt.
- FBI Director Kash Patel prematurely announced a suspect in custody, then released him, drawing rebukes from Rhode Island AG Peter Neronha.
- Donald Trump defended Patel and misstated custody status on Truth Social, fueling confusion.
- No confirmed motive exists as the suspect remains at large, highlighting risks of politicizing tragedies.
Shooting Unfolds on Brown University Campus
On December 13, 2025, a gunman opened fire at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Ella Cook, 19-year-old vice president of the Republican Club, died alongside Mukhammad Aziz Umurzako, an aspiring neurosurgeon. Nine others suffered injuries. Students sheltered in place as police locked down the progressive Ivy League campus. Survivors from prior mass shootings, including Mia Tretta from Saugus High and Zoe Weissman near Parkland, endured retraumatization amid the chaos.
The attack occurred during heightened post-2024 election tensions. Brown hosted a small Republican club where Cook bridged political divides, friends noted. Yet MAGA figures seized on her role, portraying the shooting as targeted conservative violence. This echoed unproven claims around earlier incidents like Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
MAGA Influencers Amplify Unproven Claims
Benny Johnson, Andy Biggs, James Woods, and William Branson Donahue flooded social media with theories of left-wing political targeting. They cited Cook’s position without evidence linking it to the shooter. These posts spread rapidly on X and Truth Social, mobilizing conservatives against perceived anti-right violence. Common sense demands facts before accusations, especially when grieving families seek justice over speculation.
Conservatives contrasted the incident with a simultaneous anti-Semitic shooting in Sydney, Australia, killing 16. They argued media downplayed threats to the right. Yet Rhode Island AG Peter Neronha redirected the probe elsewhere, criticizing premature politicization. Facts align with caution, not conspiracy, preserving investigative integrity American values uphold.
FBI Missteps Fuel Public Confusion
FBI Director Kash Patel posted surveillance footage of the unidentified suspect on December 15. Agents detained Benjamin Erickson at a Hampton Inn using geolocation, then released him after confirming he was not involved. Patel’s early claim of an “ideological motive” relied on undisclosed evidence, deviating from protocol. Law enforcement experts condemned the social media leaks as risky during active manhunts.
Donald Trump initially announced the suspect in custody on Truth Social, then corrected it. He defended Patel, labeling the shooter an “animal.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt mourned Cook. Senator Chris Murphy blamed Trump policies for enabling violence, citing felon gun rights restoration. Such finger-pointing ignores individual accountability conservatives prioritize.
Providence police blamed FBI leaks for exposing Erickson’s name unnecessarily. Neronha lamented the error, stating evidence pointed differently. Patel’s history of premature posts, including the Kirk case, eroded trust. This bungle extended the manhunt into its third day with no arrests.
Impacts Echo Beyond Campus
Brown students faced shelter-in-place orders and fear. Cook’s Republican club grieved a bridge-builder; Umurzako’s Muslim community mourned potential. Short-term confusion from custody flip-flops heightened national tensions. Long-term, FBI credibility under Patel faces scrutiny, intensifying gun debates amid Trump’s policy shifts.
Conspiracy theories proliferated despite no motive confirmation. Politifact highlighted rush-to-judgment dangers by Trump and Patel. Officials urged focus on facts over narratives. Conservative principles favor law, order, and evidence rushing politicization undermines them, demanding patience until truth emerges.
Sources:
MAGA Panics Over ‘Politically Motivated’ Brown Shooting
