Federal investigators in the United States have confirmed that the same gunman was responsible for two separate deadly shootings at prestigious universities, killing two students at Brown University and a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) days later. The suspect, 48-year-old Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, leaving authorities struggling to determine a motive for the attacks.
A Trail of Violence Across Campuses
The violence began on 13 December at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Neves Valente, a Portuguese national who briefly attended the Ivy League school on a student visa in 2000-2001, returned to campus and opened fire in an auditorium. He fired at least 44 rounds from a 9mm pistol during a study session, killing two students and injuring nine others.
The victims were identified as 19-year-old sophomore Ella Cook, vice president of the Brown College Republicans, and 18-year-old freshman Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, an aspiring doctor whose family immigrated from Uzbekistan.
Just two days later, on 15 December, the gunman travelled roughly 50 miles to the Boston suburb of Brookline. There, he fatally shot 47-year-old MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro at his home. Dr Loureiro, a married father of three, was a lauded theoretical physicist and the director of MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Centre.
The Hidden Connection Between Killer and Victim
US Attorney Leah Foley disclosed a crucial link on Thursday: Neves Valente and Dr Loureiro were former classmates. Both had attended the same academic programme at the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, Portugal, from 1995 to 2000. While Dr Loureiro graduated and built a distinguished career, Neves Valente was let go from a position at the school in February 2000, according to archival records.
Despite this clear connection, authorities insist the motive for targeting both his former university and his old classmate remains unclear. "We hope that this outcome tonight brings an increased sense of safety for our community," said Brown University President Christina Paxson. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha added, "I don't think we have any idea why now, or why Brown, or why these students."
The investigation revealed a calculated effort by the gunman to evade capture. In the weeks before the attacks, he rented a Nissan Sentra in Boston and swapped its Florida license plate for an unregistered plate from Maine. He used a mobile phone that concealed his location and credit cards not in his name. "He was sophisticated in hiding his tracks," Foley stated.
How the Manhunt Reached Its Conclusion
The major break in the case came from a vigilant witness, known only as "John" in court documents. After seeing police release security footage, John posted on Reddit on 16 December, identifying a suspicious man he had encountered at Brown and describing the grey Nissan with Florida plates. Reddit users urged him to contact the FBI, which he did.
"That person led us to the car, which led us to the name," said Attorney General Neronha. This tip allowed police to trace the vehicle to the rental agency, where security footage showed Neves Valente's face and the same clothing worn by the Brown shooter.
Investigators then connected the dots to the MIT case after seeing a bulletin from Massachusetts police. Digital evidence showed the IP address associated with Neves Valente's phone was used near Dr Loureiro's home on the day of the murder. Surveillance also captured a Nissan Sentra near the professor's home.
The trail ended at a storage rental facility in Salem, New Hampshire. On Thursday night, after a five-day manhunt, police found Neves Valente dead in a storage unit from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He had two firearms with him. With the suspect's death, authorities announced both cases were closed.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through academic communities on both sides of the Atlantic. MIT President Sally Kornbluth paid tribute to Dr Loureiro, recalling his words: "Fusion energy will change the course of human history." His neighbour remembered him as a "wonderful man," stating, "This family is so amazing. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to kill him."
