Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente Identified as Brown University and MIT Shooting Suspect; Found Dead in New Hampshire
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Authorities have confirmed that Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente, a former Brown University student and Portuguese national, was the suspect behind the December 14 mass shooting at Brown University that tragically claimed the lives of two students and injured nine others during a finals week review session. Neves-Valente, 48, was also identified as the suspect in the murder of Nuno Loureiro, a renowned nuclear physics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who was fatally shot at his home just days after the Brown University attack.
Law enforcement officials announced Thursday evening that Neves-Valente was found dead in a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, after a nearly week-long manhunt. Tactical teams had been seen surrounding the storage unit for hours before breaching it. The discovery brought a somber close to a tense investigation that linked the two violent incidents occurring within close geographic and temporal proximity.
Neves-Valente attended Brown University from the fall of 2000 to spring 2001, studying physics, but ultimately withdrew in 2003, according to Brown President Christina Paxson. Records also indicate that a man by the same name was terminated from a monitor position at Instituto Superior Técnico in Portugal in 2000, the same institution where Professor Loureiro had studied. Authorities believe these records pertain to the same individual.
The United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, Leah B. Foley, confirmed that federal agents were involved in the operation to locate Neves-Valente and that the Massachusetts authorities are leading the investigation into the MIT professor’s murder. The joint investigation has revealed a disturbing connection between the suspect’s actions at Brown University and the subsequent fatal shooting at MIT.
Providence police and federal agents coordinated efforts in the multi-state manhunt, which included analyzing license plate reader data and other surveillance technologies. The Federal Bureau of Investigation praised the swift response of law enforcement but acknowledged that the investigation raised important questions about campus security and inter-agency communication.
Brown University community members have been left grappling with the shock and grief of the attack. Students and faculty mourn the loss of their peers and colleagues, while university officials have pledged to review safety protocols and support services for those affected. The incident has also reignited national conversations about campus violence and the challenges of preventing such tragedies.
Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind Neves-Valente’s actions, examining his background and any potential warning signs. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been involved in tracing the origins of the firearms used in the shootings.
As the community seeks closure, federal and local agencies remain vigilant in their efforts to understand the full scope of the suspect’s activities and to prevent similar incidents in the future. The combined tragedy at Brown University and MIT stands as a stark reminder of the ongoing need for comprehensive approaches to campus safety and mental health support.
For ongoing updates and resources related to campus safety, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides guidance on violence prevention in educational settings.
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