Alabama State Rep. David Faulkner told Newsmax on Saturday that the killing of Brown University student Ella Cook was a "wake-up call" for young people, describing a tight-knit community left reeling and children forced to confront loss far too early.

Faulkner appeared on "Wake Up America Weekend" to speak about the death of Ella Cook, one of two students killed in a shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Faulkner said the loss has devastated families and classmates in suburban Birmingham, where Cook grew up and attended school.

Faulkner added that he knew Cook through the local school system, though he stressed they were not close personally. His daughter was in the same grade as Cook, and Faulkner recalled overlapping years in elementary school sports.

"Yes. I mean, I was not close," he said. "But my daughter was in the same grade as Ella. So, through our school system here and in the early years when they're in elementary school, I coached girls' basketball, and so did her father. And so when they were young and, you know, was a sweet young girl when she was in elementary school and spoke to my daughter about her, you know, how she was in high school."

She was "just a very sweet, kind, thoughtful person who was very smart. And that people, you know, everybody in their class knew she would do great things."

During the interview, Faulkner was asked how he comforted his daughter after she learned a former classmate had been killed. He said the tragedy underscored how frequently young people are now confronted with violence.

"Oh, you know, she's unfortunately, we've all seen in this world that our kids now are dealing with, with school shootings and. But my I think it really hit home with my daughter that how someone her age could be taken, their life could be taken," Faulkner said.

Faulkner said he encouraged his daughter to pray and reflect on the brevity of life.

"I think it's our kids are just now being forced to deal with things that they shouldn't, but I just let her know I love her, and you know, for her to pray. You know, Ella had a very strong faith. So I'm told. And so my daughter does too."

He said the loss has become a sobering moment for Cook's peers.

"And my daughter is just, I think, this is for their class. It's sort of a wake-up call that life is short and precious. But really, she's been praying and that's what I've encouraged her to do."

Authorities said two people were killed in the Saturday evening shooting at Brown University, identified as Cook and fellow student Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov. The shooting occurred in a classroom on campus, according to officials, and at least nine other people were wounded.

Cook was a sophomore at Brown, majoring in French and Mathematics-Economics. She graduated from Mountain Brook High School in Alabama and was a dedicated member of Cathedral Church of the Advent (Episcopal) in Birmingham.

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