Suspect in Brown University and MIT Shootings Found Dead by Suicide in New Hampshire
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Authorities confirmed on Friday that Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, the suspect in the deadly shootings at Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), died by suicide days before his body was found in a New Hampshire storage unit. The announcement brings closure to a nearly weeklong manhunt that gripped the Northeast.
The New Hampshire Department of Justice Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy on Neves Valente, 48, and determined that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Officials estimate that he died on December 16, two days prior to his discovery on December 18. The suspect had been identified as the individual responsible for the December 13 shooting at Brown University’s Barus & Holley Engineering Building during finals week, which left two students dead and nine others wounded.
Neves Valente was also linked to the December 15 fatal shooting of Nuno F.G. Loureiro, a nuclear science professor at MIT, who was found shot at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts. Investigators recovered two 9 mm pistols near Neves Valente’s body; forensic analysis by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI confirmed that one weapon was used in the Brown University shooting and the other in the killing of Professor Loureiro. The ATF’s Boston office worked closely with the Connecticut State Police forensic laboratory to make these positive matches.
Brown University President Christina Paxson noted that Neves Valente was a Portuguese national and a former Brown student who studied physics from 2000 to 2001 before withdrawing in 2003. At the time of the shootings, he had no recent affiliation with the university. “It’s safe to assume that this man spent a great deal of time in that building when he was a student,” Paxson said, referring to the Barus & Holley Engineering Building.
The investigation into Neves Valente’s motives remains ongoing, with law enforcement agencies continuing to piece together the timeline and circumstances leading up to the attacks. The multi-state manhunt involved coordination among local police, the FBI, and federal agencies, including the ATF. The suspect’s ability to enter the United States through the immigrant visa lottery program has prompted federal scrutiny, with the Department of Justice announcing a temporary pause on the program while reviewing security protocols.
The tragic events have sparked debate over campus security measures. Some students and faculty at Brown criticized the university’s spending priorities, citing a lack of sufficient security infrastructure such as surveillance cameras. A former FBI special agent described the investigation as a “colossal failure,” highlighting perceived lapses in preventive measures. Meanwhile, federal prosecutors released images of Neves Valente to aid public awareness during the search.
The Brown University shooting occurred during a critical academic period, intensifying the shock within the campus community. The MIT professor’s killing added a disturbing dimension to the case, underscoring the suspect’s apparent targeting of academic institutions. Authorities have not yet disclosed any clear motive but continue to examine Neves Valente’s background and possible grievances.
For updates on the investigation and related security advisories, the public can refer to official sources such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Brown University official website. The coordinated response and ongoing inquiry reflect the complex challenges law enforcement faces in addressing violent incidents on academic campuses.
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