A search for the man suspected in the recent mass shooting at Brown University concluded with the discovery of his body in a storage facility in New Hampshire. Authorities identified Claudio Neves Valente, a 48-year-old former student from Portugal, as the suspect in the tragic events that unfolded over the past week. He was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Col. Oscar Perez, the police chief in Providence.
Investigators believe Neves Valente is responsible for the shooting that left two students dead and nine others injured during a lecture at Brown University on March 9, 2024. Two days later, he allegedly killed Nuno F.G. Loureiro, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), at Loureiro’s home in Brookline, approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Providence. Col. Perez stated that, as of now, Neves Valente appears to have acted alone.
According to Christina Paxson, president of Brown University, Neves Valente was enrolled as a graduate student studying physics from the fall of 2000 until the spring of 2001. She emphasized that he had no current affiliation with the university. Records indicate that both Neves Valente and Loureiro attended the same academic program at a Portuguese university from 1995 to 2000. Loureiro graduated from the prestigious Instituto Superior Técnico in 2000, while Neves Valente was dismissed from the institution that same year.
Neves Valente had initially entered the United States on a student visa and later obtained legal permanent residency status in September 2017. The timeline of his activities during the years between his departure from Brown and his residency status remains unclear, with his last known address reported as being in Miami.
The investigation into his motives continues to unfold, with Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha stating that there are still “a lot of unknowns.” He expressed uncertainty about the reasons behind the attacks, questioning “why now, why Brown, why these students, and why this classroom?”
Investigation and Discovery
The investigation gained momentum after a crucial tip from a person who had encountered Neves Valente several times. This individual recognized him after police released images of a person of interest and subsequently posted their suspicions on the social media platform Reddit. The tip led authorities to identify a Nissan sedan with Florida plates connected to Neves Valente.
Utilizing a network of over 70 street cameras managed by the surveillance company Flock Safety, Providence police tracked the vehicle’s movements. After leaving Rhode Island, Neves Valente attempted to conceal his identity by placing a Maine license plate over the rental car’s original plate. Footage showed him entering an apartment building near Loureiro’s residence in a Boston suburb before heading to the storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire.
At the time of his death, Neves Valente was found with two firearms and a satchel. The FBI has stated that they found no links between the two shootings, and while Brown University officials reported having approximately 1,200 cameras on campus, the attack occurred in an older part of the engineering building, where surveillance was limited.
Context and Reactions
The tragic events have drawn comparisons to other high-profile mass shootings. Katherine Schweit, a retired FBI agent with expertise in such incidents, noted that in many cases, suspects either take their own lives or are apprehended shortly after the attacks. In previous cases, like the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, it took investigators several days to track down the perpetrators.
Neves Valente’s actions have raised significant concerns within academic communities. Loureiro, who joined MIT in 2016, was recognized for his leadership of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center, a prominent laboratory at the institution. He was known for his research on the physics of astronomical phenomena, including solar flares.
Following the revelation of Neves Valente’s identity, former President Donald Trump suspended the green card lottery program that had allowed him to remain in the United States.
As the investigation continues, the community grapples with the shocking loss of life and the unanswered questions surrounding the motives behind these senseless acts.
