What We Know About the Brown University Shooting Suspect — and How Police Linked Him to the MIT Killing

Brown University Gunman Found Dead After MIT Murder Link Emerges

Authorities say the suspect responsible for a deadly shooting at Brown University and the killing of an MIT professor was found dead Thursday night inside a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, bringing an end to a six-day manhunt that spanned multiple states.

Police identified the suspect as Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, 48, who was discovered with what investigators believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officials said there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Deadly Attacks in Rhode Island and Massachusetts

Days later, investigators linked the suspect to the killing of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro, who was found fatally shot at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts, on Monday night. Loureiro was the director of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center and a widely respected figure in the scientific community.

The manhunt began last Saturday in Providence, Rhode Island, after Neves Valente allegedly opened fire
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inside an engineering building on Brown University’s campus. The attack left two students dead and nine others injured, shaking the campus and prompting a large-scale law enforcement response.

Authorities initially said they were unaware of any connection between the two incidents. That assessment changed as the investigation progressed.

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End of the Manhunt

Brown University President Christina Paxson addressed the discovery of the suspect’s body during a Thursday night news conference.

“Nothing can truly bring closure to the lives that have been shattered over the past week,” Paxson said. “But this may allow our community to begin moving forward.”

Surveillance images of the suspect, previously released by police, showed a masked individual dressed in dark clothing who investigators said appeared to be “casing the area” prior to the Brown University shooting.

Academic Background and Possible Connection to MIT Victim

Officials confirmed that Neves Valente, a Portuguese national, briefly attended Brown University as a graduate student in physics from the fall of 2000 through the spring of 2001. He had no current affiliation with the university at the time of the attack.

Investigators also revealed a significant academic link between the suspect and the MIT victim. According to federal prosecutors, both men studied in the same physics program at a university in Portugal between 1995 and 2000. Loureiro graduated from Lisbon’s Instituto Superior Técnico in 2000.

While authorities believe the two men may have known each other, they have not disclosed the nature of their relationship or whether it played a role in the alleged crimes.

Immigration Status and Recent Movements

Federal officials said Neves Valente became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in 2017, with his last known address listed in Miami. Authorities believe he returned to New England in November, though details about his activities in the years leading up to the shootings remain unclear.

Investigators said Neves Valente had no known criminal record.

In response to the case, President Donald Trump announced the suspension of the student visa program that initially allowed Neves Valente to enter the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the suspect as “an individual who should never have been allowed into the country.”

How Police Tracked Him Down

According to an affidavit released Thursday night, an online tip posted on Reddit played a crucial role in helping authorities locate the suspect. Law enforcement had previously asked the public for assistance after releasing surveillance images of a “person of interest” seen near the Brown campus.

The tip ultimately led investigators to the New Hampshire storage facility, where Neves Valente was found dead.

What Remains Unclear

Despite major developments, investigators say critical questions remain unanswered — including why Brown University was targeted, whether the victims were chosen at random, and what ultimately motivated the attacks.

“We don’t know why now, why Brown, why these students, or why this classroom,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said.

The investigation remains active as authorities continue piecing together the suspect’s movements, motives, and potential connections in the days leading up to the shootings.

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