Three Brown University students have filed lawsuits against the institution, claiming that the school ignored warnings about a man who later opened fire on campus, resulting in two deaths and nine injuries. The lawsuits, filed last Thursday, are nearly identical and allege that a Brown University custodian observed the eventual shooter pacing the hallways of the Barus and Holley building on multiple occasions before the incident, acting in a manner the custodian considered suspicious. The custodian reported to campus security that he had seen a man who appeared to be surveilling the building.
Allegations of Negligence
The lawsuits contend that Brown University failed to implement reasonable and appropriate security measures after the custodian's report. Specifically, the university did not investigate the man's suspicious presence or restrict access to the building. On December 13, a 48-year-old former Brown student opened fire in Barus and Holley, which houses the engineering school and physics department, killing 18-year-old MukhammadAziz Umurzokov and 19-year-old Ella Cook.
Additional Violence
Two days after the campus shooting, the same individual shot and killed MIT professor Nuno Loureiro at his home in Massachusetts. The shooter was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a storage unit in New Hampshire.
University Response
Brown University is reviewing the complaints. Brian E. Clark, the university's vice president for news and strategic campus communications, stated that the school is committed to the safety and security of its community and to supporting the path to recovery and repair for students, faculty, staff, and the broader community.
Student Plaintiffs
The lawsuits were filed on behalf of three first-year students, all referred to as J. Doe, who were present during the shooting. All three lawsuits assert that the students were seriously injured, suffering physical and mental pain, significant medical expenses, and emotional distress. The lawsuits also mention a second witness who saw the shooter behaving suspiciously hours before the crime and later provided police with information about the shooter's appearance and movements.
Claims of Extended Planning
The lawsuits describe the shooting as a product of extended planning and argue that Brown should have implemented heightened security measures prior to the incident, instead of only doing so afterward.
