Brett Cooper — The Victims and Their Families Deserve Better | Episode 110

So, just from the outside looking in, it seems like the internet is doing more to find the Brown University shooter than actual law enforcement. But don't worry everybody, do not worry because we are getting an exclusive interview with Cash Patel and his country music sensation, Girlfriend. So, as I mentioned in yesterday's episode, a shooting took place at Brown University over the weekend. It left two young students killed and nine students and faculty members wounded.

and all eyes have been on local and on federal law enforcement because 3 days later the shootings took place on Saturday. 3 days later, the gunman is still at large. And it seems like people online are taking it more seriously or are at least a little more put together than the people who are on the ground supposedly trying to find this individual. Now, even though we did talk about the story yesterday, I want to give you guys a bit more context, go in more depth.

Here is a firstirhand account of the shooting from a teacher's assistant at Brown. This TA gave an interview shortly after the shooting. And the article reads, "The session for the principles of economics class scheduled from 2:00 to 4 p.m. in an engineering building on the Brown campus was nearly over." He said, quote, "I was just teaching my review like usual. A little after 4 p.m., he ended the session, which was to be his last time teaching that particular group of students, and he said goodbye.

Quote, I was telling my students that I am so grateful for them." As they stood to leave, he said, "All of a sudden, we heard gunshots and people screaming in the hall outside." About 3 seconds later, he said, "A man with a face mask and a rifle entered the classroom and started shooting. The man screamed something that Mr. Aduro said was imperceptible and that's what the students and I and the detectives have been trying to piece together.

So now you have that breakdown. That's a firsthand account. And I also want you to see the official timeline of events that has been released because this alone has had people online fuming due to the impossibly slow response time from both the university and local law enforcement. So this is a timeline of attack and emergency response. At 4:05 p.m. the Providence Emergency Services first received 911 calls. 4:05. At 4:22 p.m., Brown University sent its first emergency alert 17 minutes after the original calls.

4:35 p.m. about 50 police and emergency response vehicles arrived on site. At 4:51 p.m., Brown created confusion by wrongly announcing that they had a suspect in custody. And by 6 p.m., officials confirmed two Brown students died and eight others at the time were in critical condition. So, based on what we know, based on this timeline, it took 30 minutes for local law enforcement to get to the scene after that first 911 call.

That in itself is just reprehensible to me. It's reprehensible to a lot of people online. But then at least they were there. They were on the scene. People were getting the care that they needed and the manhunt started. And by late Saturday night, they released a video of their person of interest. And we can watch this right here. So, it's a man, I think, we all think, rounding a street corner and walking down a road.

The clip is 11 seconds long. You don't see his face. You only see the back of him. And allegedly this was all they had, but we will get into that later because early the next morning they announced that they had detained a person of interest. Providence police made this post and they said, "We have detained a person of interest in connection with yesterday's shooting at Brown. The shelter in place has been lifted." Now, despite the police specifically not naming this individual, multiple articles were quick to dox him and his family, and they cited law enforcement or persons close to the matter on how they obtained this individual's name.

However, later that day, local law enforcement announced that this individual was being released. He was not the guy. They wrote, "Tonight, we announced that the person of interest is being released. The investigation has been ongoing and remains fully active between all agencies. Since the first call to 911, we have not received any specific threats to our community." And then in their press conference, they said that it was unfortunate that this young man's name was leaked.

I >> think what is really unfortunate um that this person's name was leaked to the public. Um it's hard to put that back uh in the bottle. I'd say that it was significantly more than unfortunate because now this young man's face, his name has been blasted everywhere. People for hours thought that he was guilty of a mass shooting and now he's just walking away. He has to deal with that for the rest of his life. But anyway, this was all just the start of many mistakes made by authorities that the public is now watching in real time.

Come Monday morning, again, days after the shooting took place, they release another video of the alleged shooter and they offer a reward for identification. And guys, this video is even less clear than the first. Just watch. All right, so they're getting this from a different camera. They're zooming in. Wow. I'm so I'm so I'm so glad that we have this incredible footage of this armed shooter at large. I'm so glad that we are able to get such a clear visual on this individual.

But do not worry because then two more videos are released. Here's another. This one has given people a lot of pause because he's kind of looking sketchy. He stops and then he randomly puts his arms behind his back. A lot of people have been saying like Jenzie doesn't do this. This looks like somebody from a different country or an older gentleman because you know Jenzi doesn't walk around like this. And then this was the last video that has been released.

Again, just him walking through another neighborhood. And as you can see, that last video was from somebody's personal Ring doorbell. At a university like Brown, which I think has an $8 billion endowment, they are struggling to provide law enforcement or the public with any meaningful images while this person is still at large. And the reason why I brought up their endowment is because with that much money, with the state of the world, you would think that they would have invested in security, with cameras, all of the things.

But no, we're relying on people's personal Ring doorbells. And all of this is so ironic because back in 20121, there was actually an article that was written in the Brown Daily Herald, which is their school newspaper, about the school's 800 cameras and what some students saw as too much surveillance. And the author wrote, "How can the Brown community engage in an informed discussion about surveillance if they are unaware of the scope of the surveillance?

Until the university embraces transparency, the practice of surveillance, the monitoring of people and institutions of authority by ordinary citizens, provides a means by which we, the students, can educate ourselves and our peers. Since 2017, my friends and I have marked the locations of approximately 150 surveillance cameras on College Hill. While this is only a fraction of Brown University's more than 800 cameras, the scope of the surveillance is staggering.

quote, "It is impossible to cross or even approach Brown University without being surveyed. I encourage you to try." So, the reason why I'm bringing this up is because obviously this student is writing and saying, "There are way too many cameras." So, if you cannot walk through campus without seeing a camera, without being photographed, without being on video, how is this the best footage we have? How is it that this shooting took place at the engineering building and there were no cameras there?

Apparently, the excuse is that the building was old. building. How how how does that happen? >> It doesn't come as a surprise to me at least that there are cameras in the newer part of the building and there is video footage. Okay, so there's the back part of the building, old part and front part, new part. The shooting occurs in the old part towards the back up towards Hope Street and that older part of the building.

There are fewer if any cameras in that location. I imagine because it's an older building >> and to take the last line of that article like I encourage you to try. Well, obviously somebody did try. They approached. They crossed. They shot up. And law enforcement is still having to use neighborhood ring cameras for their manhunt. Somebody posted and said, "NASA's Hubble sees a galaxy billions of light years away. Brown University reportedly has 800 plus cameras, and this second video isn't any better than the first.

Arguably, it's worse." She goes on and she says, "We know more about this galaxy than the shooter." Absolutely correct. And the thing is, I feel like people would not be as concerned by the cameras or lack thereof, the grainy images if they had confidence in law enforcement, if they had confidence in local government and in the FBI. But they certainly do not. Because for a lot of people online, they do not see these government agencies or law enforcement working fast enough or intensely enough.

And this entire manhunt, this entire ordeal has been turned into a spectacle where agents and government officials are being mocked, literally mocked online for how absurd looking this investigation is. This is a post that went out saying that the FBI is on the case. They're looking. And this was the video that was released. They are mosying around Providence, Rhode Island. They are certainly making it happen. I mean, to me, that group on camera looks like a gaggle of tired kids at the end of trick-or-treating on Halloween.

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In that embarrassing video of the FBI agents, the comments have been brutal. Like, that is literally the only way to put it. Somebody commented and said, "For God's sake," spread out. Like, they're all just walking in a group. Somebody else said, "This FBI search looks really random and haphazard. Does not look like our best and brightest. Yeah, it looks like a scene from a buddy cop movie. A buddy cop movie might have more energy.

Might have a little more get up and go. The >> vehicles yours now. These are all ours. All of them. That everyone check that out. So, the whole Nevada plates. Yes, sir. We're in Nevada then. >> Yes, we're in Nevada, sir. >> Another person said, "Me and my co-workers when the manager walks in looking busy by staring intensely at a random object." Like, literally, all of that is true. And this is not a good look. But, you know, I don't know what's worse.

That hive mind walking across the street or the FBI hive mind snow. Just watch. I mean, what is happening here? They literally look they look like they are doing a dance. They're all scraping down the same little patch of grass. Thank god we have six people searching one little patch of snow. Somebody commented and said, "I've been wondering why the FBI never gets anything done on their own. I don't wonder anymore."

Yeah, it's pretty illuminating. Thank you so much, social media. Another person said, "Go kick rocks takes on a whole new meaning." Somebody else said, "There must be a better way to look for something in the snow. This is how I look for my keys. Not key evidence in a high-profile school shooting with no suspects. This is clown world policing." And I know that we are mocking this and we're looking at these clips because they're so absurd and I find myself laughing, but we we should not be laughing.

I shouldn't be laughing. This is a serious and tragic case. Two young people were murdered. We have no idea who did it. Law enforcement can't tell us anything. The FBI is stumbling around in the snow. So, obviously, people are going to be concerned. Now, my personal favorite clip was when they decided to just take a gander, take a peek over a fence. Just take a look at this photo. You have three people standing up on the fence trying to look over.

And listen, I get trying to take a peek, seeing if there's any evidence over there. But like, do we need the whole crowd? Do all three of you need to be like clamoring on tiptoe for a little look. Again, these are not the photos or videos that you want out there if you're trying to convince the American public that you are doing a good job, that you are working this case down to the bone. You are trying to do everything you can to find this suspect.

And the thing is, it's not just the FBI that is getting torn to shreds online because every aspect of this investigation is a disaster. For example, when discussing the initial suspect that they arrested, the police chief literally had to be told by somebody behind him that custody was the wrong word to use. >> Now, someone's in custody. How you all are working together to garner that information. >> Custody is the wrong word.

>> Someone being detained, rather. >> Correct. >> I mean, I watch videos like this and I'm like, are we in an episode of Parks and Wreck? Like, that is genuinely what it feels like. That being picked up by a hot mic feels like something out of the office or parks and wreck. But hey, even if the police chief doesn't know when to use the word custody, at least he is being equitable. At least he is making sure that he does some of his briefings in Spanish along with a sign language interpreter.

I mean, I I don't even have words. Welcome to the state of America in 2025. Just so you know, this was a mild performance from the sign language interpreter when he was actually speaking in English. He was going all out. He was drawing all of the attention. And listen, like I don't want to come off as crass or mean-spirited because obviously people in the deaf community need to stay informed as well. People who speak Spanish need to be informed.

But like, have we heard of subtitles? And it's 2025. I think that might be the most efficient, universal way to get the message out there. This just adds to the chaotic charade that people are watching transpire online. It is simply not a good look. The main theme in this episode is like, can we work on the optics? If you can't get your crap together, at least maybe let Americans think that you do, which actually that might be worse in of itself, and we should know what we're dealing with, but still, you are not inspiring any confidence whatsoever.

And you also can't sit there with your Spanish and your sign language arguing that you are helping instill confidence, help clear things up, when you can't decide if the public is actually at risk because they keep saying, you know, the suspect is armed. He is at large. but also NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING. And this is what that police chief said when he was questioned. >> And that's something that's unknown, but like the mayor stated, uh I'll tell you that uh we have enhanced enforcement uh in in that area.

We have as Steph stated earlier, we have a lot of officers in the area. So I in that sense is going to be safe. However, as well, I just want to remind the community that that our priority at law enforcement and in the city is to keep our individ our our constituents safe, keep them informed, and to keep them committed. >> So, all I have to say, what I am hoping is that their investigative skills are better than their press conference skills because this is a mess.

Somebody combined it and said, you know, I have withheld judgment until now. It is a tough job and I thought maybe they were holding back and withholding info to trap the perpetrator. But I now think that this guy is as useless as the mayor. Running cities is just not something that liberals are cut out for. Another person said, "Just when you thought the Minnesota politicians and law enforcement were the dumbest, Rhode Island says, "Hold my latte."

Yeah, Tim Walls is sitting over in Minnesota breathing a sigh of relief right now because finally, after weeks, the attention is not on him. But I haven't forgotten Tim Walls. I will never forget. But anyway, back to the point. Back to the hypocrisy and the conflicting messages that are being sent out to the people of Providence. Even though this shooter is still at large even though he is armed, Mayor Smiley wanted to encourage the community to come out TO A PARK FOR A PUBLIC Hanukkah celebration.

Just watch. Finally, the Providence City Council, who've been excellent partners, and again, we're joined by leaders from the city council, including the councilman for this area, Councilman John Gonzolves, is inviting the Providence community and really anyone who'd like to join us tonight at 5:00 p.m. at Lipet Park, uh, where there had been a previous plan to light a Christmas tree and to light a monora for the first night of Hanukkah.

And for those who know at least a little bit of the Hanukkah story, it is quite clear that if we can come together as a community and shine a little bit of light tonight, I think there's nothing better that we could be doing as a community. >> You know, I think the thing that the community could be doing is staying home and being safe. How dumb do you have to be to think that this is a good idea? like you're you're really going to invite your town where there is a shooter at large, motives unknown after there has been a very public mass shooting out to a public park for a Hanukkah celebration just days after a Hanukkah celebration was shot up by terrorists in Australia.

Did that not cross your mind that maybe that would not be a great idea? That maybe people would not feel comfortable doing that this just seems irresponsible? Like these are not serious people. And also, it has not just been law enforcement that has been a mess because six hours, six whole hours after the shooting, Brown President Christina Paxton had quote unquote no clue what was going on in that engineering building at the time of the shooting.

Just listen. >> President, with all due respect, six hours after the shooting, and you said you don't know what what was going on in that classroom. How does that happen? Were they taking an exam? Were they meeting for a club? >> I don't know. I don't know. >> Six hours later and you're the president and you don't know. >> I do not know. Well, >> that's kind of concerning >> that journalist like, "Oh, okay, great." Feeling a lot of confidence in how you are leading your institution.

Brandon Tatum posted that clip and he said, "What a disaster at Brown University. Two people dead, several wounded, 6-hour time lapse, 816 cameras, zero pictures of the suspect." Obviously, that was on the day that it took place. $71,000 a year tuition, and the president of Brown University is clueless. Update: No suspect has officially been arrested or charged. And again, that was posted on Saturday. In taking in that video, I think that the public actually knew faster considering that interview that we read at the top of the episode given by that TA who was very clear about what was taking place in his classroom within the engineering building.

And we should also ask with your 800 cameras, could you not figure it out within those 6 hours? Like again, the entire thing is just chaotic. It is a mess. And even if these people are well-meaning and they're trying to get it together and they're wanting to do the right thing because I want to believe the best in people, I don't think that they're just sitting around not caring. But this is not giving your community, the public at large, any confidence.

And I think that the nail in the coffin for people online was when Steven Miller's wife Katie, who has a podcast, decided that this was THE PERFECT TIME TO debut a teaser trailer for her interview with Cash Patel and his girlfriend, Alexis. Just watch. We are so excited to be joined by Cash and his beautiful girlfriend, Alexis. So, I just want to clarify, you're not Jewish. >> I'm not. >> You're not from Israel. >> No.

So, how did we get to are you a MSAD agent? You know, that's a great question. Where's her ring? >> Just to clarify, how often has he traveled to see you since January 20th? Has there been one moment where you're like, you can't make this up? I mean, like, come on. Come on. Like, really? Right now. Right now was the perfect You could not wait even 24 hours. On X. Katie Miller said, "The love story. FBI director Cash and Alexis Wilkins.

Is she from Israel? How do they make long distance work? When is the engagement? Tomorrow at 600 p.m. Eastern time. When is the engagement of Cash Mattel and Alexis Bulgates? Yes. At this moment in time with all of these tragedies, when sons are slitting the throats of their fathers, when terrorists are attacking Hanukkah celebrations, when there are shootings at Brown University, that's the thing on the top of all of our minds.

I I forgot the uh the bomb threats in Los Angeles. But but yeah, no, we are all thinking about when Cash Patel is getting engaged to Alexis Wilkins, the country music sensation. And I know I know that I'm being a bit bitter here, but it just all is so absurd. And I will say on any other day at any other time, I would find this fascinating. they would be sitting in front of my TV with popcorn wanting to watch this, wanting to know so that we could talk about on the show, but right now I really don't care.

There's so many more important things to be talking about. Now, after Katie Miller started getting ripped to shreds online after posting that trailer, she commented and she said, "Look, this was taped prior to Sunday. So, at least we know that Cash did not step aside to do a podcast in the middle of all of this." And I will give Cash the benefit of the doubt because obviously it is not his fault for her deciding to post a trailer, you know, at the worst moment possible.

But also, these are all professionals. They should be the best at what they do. Like, shouldn't there be a bit of discernment when it comes to something like this? Like, shouldn't Katie or somebody on her team go, "Hey, you know, this was a a huge tragic weekend around the world?" Like, the FBI is addressing bomb threats, school shootings. Maybe maybe we should just hold this one for a week. We'll take a pause. We'll insert another guest because right now probably isn't the best time to have Cash be on a podcast.

Or somebody on Cash's team, his comm's team, shoot Katie a text, say, "Hey, our optics, you know, have not been great recently. I feel like this could make things worse. Let's just let's just hold it for a week or so." But apparently, I'm guessing none of that happened. and it really just made all of the online chatter and the distrust in our institutions even worse. Somebody commented and said, "Maybe just wait to drop this until after the FBI manhunt into an active shooter ends, you know, optics."

Somebody else said, "Hey, no rush on solving the atlarge killer in my hometown." Somebody else said, "Katie, great job. I feel safer than ever." Yeah. And of course, Alexis had to jump in and she defended the podcast. She wrote this in a reply to Newsome's office who was tweeting about her doing the podcast and she said, "You know, it is so crazy that Newsome's press office has had time to respond to drama on X, but an obviously pre-taped interview, no airfare needed, that many other officials have also done."

And then she went on later in the tweet to say that they didn't acknowledge the good work that she had been doing recently. And like all I have to say here is like, Alexis, it's literally not about you. Nobody is saying that you should not have done the podcast. They're not attacking you right now, like in the nicest way possible. It's about cash. It's not about you. It does not matter that other highranking officials have done the podcast like Elon and Mike Johnson and JD Vance.

It is simply about the timing and the optics that at such a high level should have been considered at the bare minimum. Like that is all people are saying. It is not about you. Now moving on from that little fiasco. Even though local law enforcement is obviously struggling to keep it together, the internet is not allegedly. Now I have no desire to post this individual's face or information in case he is not the guy.

I do not want to be irresponsible, but starting on Monday night, I will tell you people online were beginning to connect those grainy images and videos with photos of a student from Brown. They found his ex page. They found his LinkedIn and multiple articles written about him and his involvement at Brown as a student assistant. And those pages on Brown's website have now been wiped. And I will show you a screenshot of that right here.

And that is all we know. But it has been all over my ex feed. So I at least wanted to put that in the episode to show you that people online are doing something. And at the time of filming this on Tuesday evening, there has been no confirmation from authorities, nor acknowledgement of any of these clues or tips. So, who knows what will happen. Maybe by tomorrow at noon when this episode is uploaded, there will be new information.

But I did want to share that with you now. But if the internet, if people on X found him by cross- referencing grainy Ring doorbell footage while the FBI was tiptoe peeking over fences, then I don't even know what to say. Like, I need a nap. I am ready for this year to be done.