Tributes pour in for Ella Cook, Brown shooting victim

Cook was also the vice president of the Brown Republicans, according to a social media post from Alex Shieh, who left the school earlier this year amid a furor over his DOGE-inspired “bloat @ Brown” campaign.

“Being a conservative at Brown isn’t always the easiest, but Ella was never afraid to share her beliefs on an overwhelmingly liberal campus and support others in doing so,” Shieh wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Condolences flood in for Cook

Cook’s death inspired tributes from many prominent Republicans, including Leavitt, Vice President JD Vance and Alabama Sens. Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville.

“This beautiful young girl was one of the murdered students at Brown University,” Vance wrote on X. “It takes special courage to lead an organization of conservatives on a left wing campus, and I am very sorry our country has lost one of its bright young stars.”

Vance also offered condolences for Umurzokov in a separate post.

Alabama U.S. Sen. Katie Britt expressed her condolences to Ella Cook’s family, calling the student’s death “heartbreaking” and “senseless.”

In a statement, Britt offered comfort to those who knew Cook, noting that her life was “taken far too soon” and expressing gratitude to law enforcement officials working on the investigation. Britt also asked that Ella’s loved ones and community be kept in prayers during this difficult time.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Al., also expressed his condolences.

“Our hearts and our prayers are with the Cook family and everyone impacted by this senseless killing,” Tuberville posted on social media Dec. 15.

Alabama Rep. Gary Palmer, a Republican who represents the district that Cook was from, said his family is “heartbroken.”

“She was an amazing young woman, with a life full of promise,” he said in a post on social media. “Our prayers and condolences go out to Ella’s friends & family during this tragic time and all those impacted by the Brown University shooting.”

Chairman of the Rhode Island Young Republicans Ken Naylor said they are “deeply saddened” by her loss.

“Although I never had the chance to meet her, we recognize and admire Ella for standing up for what she believed in and for using her voice to engage with her classmates through her role as Vice Chair of the Brown University College Republicans,” he said in a statement. “A young life was taken far too soon in a senseless act of violence. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, classmates, and the entire Brown community during this heartbreaking time.”

The Rhode Island Republican Party offered condolences to both victims:

“The Rhode Island Republican Party is devastated to learn of the tragic loss of Ella Cook, Vice President of the Brown College Republicans, whose life was taken in Saturday’s horrific mass shooting. Ella was a bold, faithful, and inspiring young conservative leader who fearlessly shared her beliefs on campus. Described by those who knew her as a “bright light,” kind, and grounded, Ella embodied the very best of the next generation of conservative voices,” the organization wrote in a statement.

“We extend our deepest condolences and fervent prayers to Ella’s family, her congregation at Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama, her friends, the Brown College Republicans, the entire Brown University community, MukhammadAziz Umurzakov and his family during this time of profound grief and anxiety. Our thoughts are with students across Rhode Island who are reeling in fear from this terrible event, and with our law enforcement community as they continue to exhaust all measures in bringing the murderer to justice.”