BROOKLINE, Mass. — A search spanning multiple states concluded Thursday evening when law enforcement discovered the suspect in a series of shootings, including a mass shooting at Brown University and the fatal shooting of an MIT professor, dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The identity of the suspect was confirmed as Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national and former Brown University student.
Providence police Chief Col. Oscar Perez Jr. reported that Neves Valente was found in a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire. An autopsy conducted on Friday indicated that he had died on December 16 from a gunshot wound to the head, which investigators classified as a suicide. Neves Valente had most recently lived in Miami.
As authorities pieced together events surrounding the shootings, they learned that Neves Valente may have visited a shooting range in New Hampshire prior to launching his attacks. Investigators discovered a receipt linked to that location, shedding light on his intentions leading up to the tragic incidents.
On Saturday, two students were killed and nine others injured when gunfire erupted at Brown University’s Barus and Holley engineering building, where classes were in session. The deceased victims were identified as Ella Cook, from Birmingham, Alabama, and freshman Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov. Just two days later, MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro, 47, was shot and killed at his Brookline residence.
As detectives from various jurisdictions communicated, they identified a connection between the two shootings through descriptions of a gray Nissan vehicle involved in both cases. The vehicle, initially reported as being driven by a suspicious person in Providence, was later linked to Neves Valente when investigators traced a Florida rental plate back to him.
Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Neves Valente on Thursday after identifying him as the suspect in the shootings. Later that night, local and federal agents converged on the storage facility where he was located. There, they recovered a gray Nissan and two 9mm Glock handguns equipped with laser sights, along with multiple magazines containing nearly 200 rounds of ammunition and significant cash.
Around 9 p.m., law enforcement personnel found Neves Valente deceased inside the storage unit, alongside a satchel containing weapons. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley noted that while the motives behind Neves Valente’s actions remain unclear, investigators do not believe he specifically targeted any of the victims at Brown University or MIT.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey commended the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and expressed her condolences for the victims of the shootings. She emphasized the need for continued vigilance and cooperation among various agencies to ensure public safety while reflecting on the tragic loss of the victims.
Neves Valente’s history at Brown University revealed that he had participated in a doctoral program from 2000 to 2001 before withdrawing in 2003. Brown University President Christina Paxson noted that he primarily took physics classes during his tenure. Interestingly, Neves Valente had previously held a teaching assistant position but was let go in 2000.
Following these events, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a pause on the diversity visa lottery program, stating that Neves Valente had obtained his visa through this channel. This announcement aimed to address concerns regarding national security and prevent further risks to American citizens.