UPDATE: A crucial Reddit post has led authorities to identify the suspect behind the tragic shootings at Brown University and MIT, where two students and a professor were killed. Police have confirmed that Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, aged 48, is responsible for these devastating attacks, which have rocked the New England academic community.
On December 16, 2025, a witness posted on Reddit with key details about the suspect’s movements, stating they saw Valente near Brown University before the shooting that claimed the lives of 19-year-old Ella Cook and 18-year-old Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov. The post also described a grey Nissan with Florida plates, which police later linked to Valente.
The violent episode at Brown occurred on Saturday, injuring nine others, while the subsequent fatal shooting of Nuno F.G. Loureiro, an MIT physics professor, took place at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts, on December 18, just two days later. Investigators discovered Valente deceased in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, further complicating the case.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha expressed a somber sentiment, stating, “While we’ll never be able to prosecute this individual, I hope this result begins to provide some small measure of closure for the victims and their families.” This reflects the heavy toll of violence on families and communities, as they grapple with the loss of their loved ones.
Valente, originally from Torres Novas, Santarem, Portugal, had connections to both Brown University and MIT. He entered the U.S. on an F-1 visa in August 2000 and was a graduate student at Brown until 2003. Following a significant gap in his history, he later obtained a “diversity immigrant visa,” allowing him to become a permanent resident in 2017.
Authorities revealed that the Reddit post played a pivotal role in breaking the case. Just three days after the shooting, police received anonymous information about the post, which led to critical surveillance footage and witness accounts. The witness, identified only as “John,” encountered Valente multiple times on the day of the attack and described his suspicious behavior.
John recounted his experience to police, noting that Valente appeared disheveled and was dressed inappropriately for the weather, prompting concern. He described a tense interaction where Valente dismissed him, saying, “I don’t know you from nobody. Why are you harassing me?” This led to a chilling realization of the events that would unfold shortly after.
As the investigation unfolds, the community is left to cope with the aftermath of this tragedy. The significance of social media in aiding law enforcement has been highlighted, showcasing how a simple post can have monumental implications in solving crimes.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for real-time updates as more information becomes available.
