URGENT UPDATE: The suspect in the tragic mass shooting at Brown University last weekend, Claudio Neves Valente, has been found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities discovered the 48-year-old former student in a storage facility in New Hampshire on Thursday evening, October 12, 2023.
Valente is believed to be responsible for the horrific attack that occurred on Saturday, October 7, where he fatally shot two students and injured nine others inside a lecture hall on the university’s campus. The violence escalated two days later when he allegedly murdered Nuno F.G. Loureiro, a Portuguese professor at MIT, at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez confirmed Valente’s identity and the ongoing investigation into the events surrounding the shooting. “We are still piecing together the timeline and motive, but the community is shaken,” Perez stated during a press conference.
Brown University President Christina Paxson noted that Valente was enrolled as a graduate student studying physics from the fall of 2000 to the spring of 2001. “He has no current affiliation with the university,” Paxson emphasized, underscoring the institution’s commitment to student safety and well-being.
Investigators revealed that Valente and Professor Loureiro were former classmates who attended the same academic program in Portugal from 1995 to 2000. U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah B. Foley remarked on the chilling connection between Valente and Loureiro, highlighting the tragic nature of this case.
The Brown University community is reeling from this violence, with many students expressing shock and grief over the loss of their peers. Vigil services are being organized to honor the victims and provide support to those affected by the tragedy.
This situation is still developing, with law enforcement continuing to investigate the circumstances leading up to the shootings. Officials urge anyone with information to come forward as they seek to understand the full extent of this incident.
As this story unfolds, the community remains vigilant, grieving the loss of lives and grappling with the implications of such violence on campus safety. Updates will follow as more information becomes available.
