DOJ says Brown–MIT shooter planned attacks for years, left confession videos
Federal prosecutors say Claudio Manuel Neves‑Valente, the suspect in the Dec. 13 Brown University shooting and the Dec. 16 killing of MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro, had been planning the Brown attack for at least six semesters and left Portuguese‑language video recordings recovered from a New Hampshire storage unit in which he admits long‑term planning but offers no clear motive. Neves‑Valente was found dead in that storage unit in an apparent suicide, forensic testing tied two recovered handguns to the separate shootings, and local, state and federal investigators shared intelligence as they probed links between the attacks amid scrutiny of university security and the ensuing manhunt.
📌 Key Facts
- Authorities identified the shooter as Claudio Manuel Neves‑Valente, a Portuguese national and former Brown graduate student; he was found dead by suicide in a Salem, New Hampshire storage unit on Dec. 18, and an autopsy later estimated he likely died on Dec. 16.
- Investigators say Neves‑Valente carried out the Dec. 13 shooting at Brown University’s Barus & Holley building (killing two people and wounding others) and, while on the run, shot and killed MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro at his Brookline home (Loureiro, 47, was taken to hospital and died the following morning).
- Forensic testing by federal and state agencies linked two recovered 9mm pistols to the crimes: one pistol to the Brown University mass shooting and the other to the killing of Professor Loureiro.
- The U.S. Department of Justice says Neves‑Valente planned the Brown attack for at least six semesters; FBI agents recovered an electronic device from the storage unit containing Portuguese‑language videos in which he admits long‑term planning, describes his acts and says he rented the storage unit for about three years, but he gave no clear motive for targeting Brown or Loureiro.
- Investigators initially reported no clear link between the Brown and MIT attacks but later said agencies (including FBI Boston) were sharing intelligence across the two cases as evidence pointed to a connection; surveillance descriptions noted Nissan Sentras near both scenes.
- The manhunt and identification were hampered by early investigative missteps, low‑quality or sparse campus surveillance footage and delays; a homeless witness known as “John” and tips from a Reddit user were crucial in identifying and locating the suspect.
- Brown and MIT have taken administrative and security responses: Brown placed its public‑safety chief on leave, appointed an interim head, retained outside counsel, pledged a campus security overhaul (more cameras, card access, panic buttons) and is subject to a U.S. Department of Education review; MIT confirmed Loureiro led the Plasma Science and Fusion Center, said he was not working on classified projects, and limited public comment out of respect for the ongoing investigation.
📊 Relevant Data
Roughly half of international students in US universities screened positive for major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, eating disorder, non-suicidal self-injury, or suicidal ideation, with prevalence rates slightly lower than domestic students except for a higher prevalence of eating disorders.
The Mental Health of International Students Studying in the U.S. - Xiang Zhou - Steps to Leaps - Purdue University — Purdue University
From 2015 to 2024, national trends show increases in anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among international students in US higher education, with a temporary decline during 2019-2020 attributed to enhanced family support and university accommodations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
National trends of mental health and service utilisation among international students in the USA, 2015–2024 | General Psychiatry — General Psychiatry
There have been 17 mass shootings at US colleges involving three or more fatalities documented from historical records up to 2025.
Shootings at Colleges: U.S. Statistics | BestColleges — BestColleges
In campus shootings from 2001-2002 to 2015-2016, 5% involved rampages with mass casualties, while 11% involved targeted students and/or employees, with the majority of incidents stemming from disputes (38%) or robberies (21%).
College Campus Shooting Statistics You Should Know — Campus Safety Magazine
International graduate students in the US report unique mental health challenges, with studies showing they face barriers to accessing care, and prevalence of concerns like depression and anxiety comparable to or slightly differing from non-international peers.
International Graduate Students’ Mental Health Diagnoses, Challenges, and Support: A Descriptive Comparison to their Non-International Graduate Student Peers | Journal of International Students — Journal of International Students
📰 Sources (19)
Shooter who killed MIT professor and Brown students planned attack for months, DOJ says
New information:
- DOJ says shooter Claudio Neves Valente had been planning the Brown University attack for at least six semesters.
- FBI recovered an electronic device from the New Hampshire storage unit where Neves Valente was found dead, containing short videos he recorded after the shootings.
- In Portuguese‑language recordings, Neves Valente admits he planned the Brown shooting "for a long time," calls his execution "a little incompetent" but says "at least something was done," and states he would not apologize because "during my lifetime no one sincerely apologized to me."
- He describes his "only objective" as leaving on his "own terms" and ensuring he "wouldn't be the one who ended up suffering the most," and notes he had rented the storage space for about three years.
- The DOJ confirms he did not provide any motive for targeting Brown University or MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro, an acquaintance from their time studying in Portugal.
Dispatch records from Brown University shooting capture chaos of deadly campus attack
New information:
- Providence Police and Fire Department dispatch records show the shooting began shortly after 4 p.m. Dec. 13 in the Barus and Holley building near Brown’s Sciences Library and other academic buildings along Thayer, Hope and Waterman streets.
- Officers reported encountering a possible suspect in a basement at 167 Thayer St. at 4:22 p.m., taking one person into custody at 4:38 p.m. after confronting a possible suspect in a bathroom, and detaining another person in a vehicle at 4:42 p.m.; these on‑scene detentions were separate from the individual detained the following morning at a Coventry hotel and later released.
- Initial 911 calls reported a man shot in the back near Manning Walk, with subsequent calls describing an active shooter and about 10 shots fired in Barus and Holley hallways and classrooms; witnesses initially described a male suspect in all‑black clothing with a face covering.
- Dispatch traffic indicated hundreds of students sheltering in place, including roughly 150–300 barricaded inside Solomon Hall, while Providence Fire quickly declared a mass‑casualty incident, deployed rescue task forces and requested ballistic protection for medics who had to wait for scenes to be secured.
- Fire logs show victims located both inside and outside buildings (including hallways, stairwells and basement areas), and Rhode Island Hospital was designated to receive the most critically injured victims.
Brown University implements campus-wide security overhaul after mass shooting leaves 2 dead, 9 wounded
New information:
- Brown University announced a campus-wide security overhaul including converting remaining key-entry buildings to card access before Spring 2026, expanding blue-light phones with cameras, installing security cameras in key locations such as the Barus and Holley building, and adding more panic buttons.
- Immediate measures include increased public safety staffing across campus and continued use of card access, keys, or ID checks for building entry.
- The U.S. Department of Education has opened an investigation into Brown for potential violations of the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act and will conduct an external after-action review of the incident and emergency response.
- Brown will also undergo a comprehensive, externally led campus safety and security assessment that will incorporate community input.
- Former Brown police chief Rodney Chatman has been placed on leave and Hugh T. Clements Jr., former Providence police chief, has been named interim public safety vice president after reports that a custodian claimed he had warned security about the suspected shooter weeks before the attack.
Brown, MIT shootings may have stemmed from suspect’s failures, fixation on scientist’s success: report
New information:
- Portuguese nuclear‑fusion official Dr. Bruno Goncalves told the Daily Mail that the leading theory is that suspect Claudio Manuel Neves‑Valente saw MIT professor Nuno Loureiro as a symbol of the academic and professional success he failed to achieve.
- Goncalves said there was no known ongoing relationship or rivalry between Neves‑Valente and Loureiro after their student days, and that any resentment was one‑sided and developed later.
- Goncalves rejected the idea that institutional or academic pressures caused the violence, saying elite Portuguese technical universities provide psychological support and many graduates successfully move into other careers.
- He characterized the shootings as rooted in how Neves‑Valente chose to respond to his own failures rather than in problems with the course or academic system.
Brown University students shaken as relief, anger collide after suspected shooter's death
New information:
- Providence police publicly identified the suspected Brown shooter as 48‑year‑old Portuguese national Claudio Manuel Neves‑Valente and confirmed he was found dead in a Salem, New Hampshire storage unit on Dec. 18.
- Brown President Christina Paxson said Neves‑Valente had been a Brown graduate student from fall 2000 to spring 2001, took a leave of absence, and ultimately withdrew in 2003.
- Police also identified Neves‑Valente as the suspected gunman who killed MIT Professor Nuno Loureiro, 47, in his Brookline home on Dec. 16.
- Brown’s website indicates the first emergency alert about the shooting went out at 4:22 p.m., 17 minutes after the first 911 call, a delay students in the article criticize.
- Students quoted describe intense emotional reactions to the suspect’s death, lingering fear on campus, and specific experiences sheltering during the incident and relying on SideChat posts before official alerts.
Brown University police chief placed on leave after deadly shooting as Trump admin opens investigation
New information:
- Brown University Vice President for Public Safety and Emergency Management Rodney Chatman has been placed on administrative leave by President Christina Paxson following the Dec. 13 Barus and Holley shooting.
- Former Providence Police Chief Hugh T. Clements has been appointed interim head of Brown’s public safety operations.
- The U.S. Department of Education has opened a formal investigation into Brown for potential violations of the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act related to the shooting.
- Education Secretary Linda McMahon issued a statement framing the review as a test of whether Brown met its legal obligation to "vigilantly maintain campus security."
- Brown announced an "After‑Action Review" of the incident and pledged new security measures, including expanded security camera coverage in the Barus and Holley building, which previously had few or no cameras in the area of the shooting, according to Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha.
Billionaire trustees stay silent as Brown University faces mounting campus murder fallout
New information:
- Fox reports that Brown’s full board of trustees, including high-profile figures such as Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan and Goldman Sachs asset-management chair Rich Friedman, declined to respond to requests for comment about the murders and security lapses.
- Article details that a homeless man, known as 'John,' was living in the basement of Brown’s Barus and Holley engineering building and became a key witness who helped investigators identify and locate the alleged shooter.
- Piece emphasizes that police initially had to resort to social media to identify this homeless witness, highlighting weaknesses in Brown’s ability to monitor who was living in its facilities.
- Story reiterates that the building where the shooting occurred had limited surveillance, and notes the implication that failure to apprehend the suspect on campus may have enabled the later killing of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro.
- Fox outlines the governance role of Brown’s board (employment and review of the president, approval of long-term strategy) to frame possible accountability for campus security decisions.
Brown University police chief placed on leave after mass shooting
New information:
- Brown University placed Vice President for Public Safety and Emergency Management and campus police chief Rodney Chatman on leave effective immediately, more than a week after the Dec. 13 shooting.
- Former Providence Police Department chief Hugh T. Clements was appointed interim chief for public safety and police while Chatman is on leave.
- President Christina Paxson announced Brown will commission a formal review of campus safety and the university’s response to the Dec. 13 shooting.
- Brown will install more security cameras across campus, including at the Barus & Holley engineering building where the shooting occurred, after investigators said the manhunt was hampered by a lack of usable surveillance video.
- The U.S. Department of Education announced a 'program review' of Brown to determine whether the university met federal campus safety standards tied to eligibility for federal student aid.
- The Department of Education said Brown 'seemed unable to provide helpful information about the profile of the alleged assassin' in the days following the shooting, and Education Secretary Linda McMahon issued a statement framing the review as part of the Trump administration’s effort to enforce student-safety requirements.
Brown University hires former US Attorney Zachary Cunha as possible campus shooting lawsuits loom
New information:
- Brown University has retained former U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island Zachary Cunha, who stepped down in May, in anticipation of possible lawsuits stemming from the Dec. 13 campus shooting.
- Brown states that Cunha is being used as outside counsel to assist the university in coordinating with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
- The article reiterates criticism that Brown lacked sufficient security cameras on campus, forcing investigators to rely on off‑campus surveillance during the manhunt.
- Additional biographical detail: Cunha was nominated as U.S. attorney by President Joe Biden in 2021 and resigned in February after being directed to do so by President Trump’s White House, and he is now a partner at Nixon Peabody in its litigation and government investigations/white‑collar defense practice.
Brown University custodian told security suspicious man was ‘casing’ building weeks before shooting: report
New information:
- Brown custodian Derek Lisi says he saw a man matching suspect Claudio Manuel Neves Valente on campus roughly 10 times in the weeks before the Dec. 13 shooting, mainly in the Barus and Holley engineering and physics building.
- Lisi reports the man paced hallways, peered into classrooms and once ducked behind a bathroom to avoid being seen, and frequently lingered near room 166 where the shooting later occurred.
- Lisi says he reported the suspicious behavior to a Brown University security guard in mid‑November, telling them the man was 'circling the hallways.'
- He last saw the man on Dec. 1 before going on vacation and later recognized him from police photos after the shooting, telling The Boston Globe the suspect had been 'casing that place for weeks.'
- Lisi told Providence Police about his observations on Dec. 15 and criticized Barus and Holley as having been 'a free‑for‑all' where 'anybody could just come in.'
- The article updates victim status, noting five of the injured remain at Rhode Island Hospital in stable condition and reiterates that victims Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov were killed.
Brown University, MIT shooting suspect likely died days before body found: autopsy
New information:
- New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella announced that an autopsy found Claudio Manuel Neves‑Valente died from a gunshot wound to the head, with the manner of death ruled suicide.
- Based on forensic and investigative information, authorities now estimate Neves‑Valente died on Tuesday, Dec. 16, two days before his body was found in the Salem, New Hampshire storage unit.
- ATF and FBI, working with the Connecticut State Police forensic lab, confirm that one recovered 9mm pistol was the weapon used in the Brown University mass shooting and the second pistol was used in the killing of MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro.
- Brown’s president reiterated that Neves‑Valente, a Portuguese national and former physics Ph.D. student who withdrew in 2003, had no current affiliation with the university, though he likely spent extensive time in the targeted building when enrolled.
Investigators struggled to ID Brown suspect while gunman went on to kill again
New information:
- Authorities identify the Brown University shooter as former Brown graduate student Claudio Manuel Neves Valente.
- Investigators say the gunman shot and killed MIT professor Nuno Loureiro at his Boston‑area home while on the run during the manhunt.
- The suspect was found dead by suicide in a New Hampshire storage unit on Thursday night, ending a five‑day manhunt.
- The manhunt was hampered by an early misidentification and detention of an uninvolved person of interest that investigators later had to walk back.
- Officials say poor, low‑quality surveillance video and gaps in camera coverage inside the Brown building significantly slowed identification.
- Investigators report that a Reddit user (“John”) provided a crucial tip about encounters with the suspect and details of his car, which enabled law enforcement to identify and track the shooter.
- Multiple law enforcement sources told CBS that investigators had to ‘effectively restart’ after early missteps, losing several hours in a critical early window.
- The piece notes prior scrutiny of FBI Director Kash Patel’s social‑media use in high‑profile cases, drawing a parallel to his premature X post in the Charlie Kirk assassination case.
Suspected Brown University gunman identified as investigators explore connection to MIT slaying: sources
New information:
- Investigators have identified the suspected Brown University shooter and are examining whether he may also be tied to the shooting death of MIT professor Nuno F. G. Loureiro in Brookline.
- Senior law‑enforcement sources, cited by WPRI‑TV, say they have uncovered evidence of a connection between the Brown and MIT shootings, although the nature of that evidence has not been disclosed.
- Reports in both jurisdictions reference Nissan Sentras seen near each crime scene, though the cars were described as having license plates from different states.
- The article underscores that FBI Boston and regional investigators are sharing intelligence across the two cases after previously saying there was no clear link.
MIT professor remembered as brilliant scientist amid search for his killer
New information:
- CBS reports that sources say Nuno Loureiro was not working on any classified projects, and that there is no classified work being performed on the MIT campus.
- FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks is quoted saying there is no indication that the MIT killing and the Brown University shooting are related.
- MIT obituary details Loureiro’s scientific profile, highlighting his work on nonlinear plasma dynamics, magnetic reconnection, turbulence and instabilities.
- The article lists specific prizes Loureiro received, including the APS Thomas H. Stix Award for Outstanding Early Career Contributions to Plasma Physics Research and the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.
- MIT President Sally Kornbluth’s letter to the community is quoted, expressing condolences to Loureiro’s family and the MIT community.
Who was Nuno Loureiro? MIT professor gunned down in apartment near university
New information:
- Confirms Nuno F. Gomes Loureiro’s broader prominence in fusion‑energy research, including that his theories and models guided major U.S. and European fusion experiments.
- Reports that FBI Boston SAC Ted Docks said investigators are sharing intelligence with the Brown University shooting probe but do not currently believe the two attacks are connected.
- Notes that no suspect has been identified and the motive remains unknown, as of the latest briefing.
- Adds community reaction, including quotes from neighbor and Tufts professor Allen Taylor about the impact on the scientific community and local neighborhood.
- Provides additional biographical background: Loureiro’s education in Portugal, the UK and the U.S., and his work on solar flares and plasma physics.
- Includes expanded tribute quote from MIT colleague Dennis Whyte describing Loureiro’s role as a mentor, teacher and leader in the fusion community.
Police launch homicide investigation into MIT professor shot at his Massachusetts home
New information:
- Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office formally classified the case as an active homicide investigation and said no further information is being released at this time.
- Clarified timeline: Loureiro was taken to a hospital Monday evening with apparent gunshot wounds and died Tuesday morning.
- Background specifics: full name (Nuno Gomes Loureiro), age 47, originally from Portugal, joined MIT in 2016 and became director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center last year.
- Brookline Police Chief Jennifer Paster offered condolences and said disclosure is limited to protect the investigation.
- MIT’s Dennis Whyte praised Loureiro in a statement carried by MIT News.
An MIT professor was shot at home. Authorities say no suspect is in custody
New information:
- Victim identified as Nuno F.G. Loureiro, 47.
- Timing clarified: shooting occurred Monday night; he died Tuesday morning.
- Authorities state no suspect is in custody; the case is an active, ongoing homicide investigation per the Norfolk DA’s Office.
- MIT confirms Loureiro led the Plasma Science and Fusion Center and was a professor in Nuclear Science and Engineering and Physics, and notes support services for the community.
MIT professor shot dead in Brookline home, Massachusetts State Police launch homicide investigation
New information:
- Massachusetts State Police are leading the homicide investigation, according to officials.
- MIT spokesperson Kimberly Allen issued a statement offering condolences and noting focused outreach and support for those who knew Prof. Loureiro.
- MIT said it will not release additional information out of respect for the integrity of the ongoing investigation.