Authorities have identified Claudio Manuel Neves‑Valente as the man behind two violent attacks that shook America’s academic world — the Brown University classroom shooting on Saturday, 13 December , 2025, and the killing of an MIT professor two days later.
Investigators say Neves‑Valente stormed a lecture hall at Brown in Providence, Rhode Island, opening fire and leaving two students dead and nine others wounded.
On Monday, 15 December, 2025 MIT professor Nuno Loureiro was shot at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts. The two incidents quickly drew the attention of federal and state agencies, who began linking the crimes.
Neves‑Valente, a 48‑year‑old Portuguese national, once enrolled at Brown as a doctoral student but had no current ties to the institution. His past academic connections in Portugal are now under review as investigators search for motive.
The suspect was tracked across state lines in a multi‑agency manhunt. On Thursday, 18 December, 2025 he was found dead inside a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, killed by a self‑inflicted gunshot wound.
Officials say the discovery ended a tense search that had spread across several states and left campuses on edge.
Brown University and MIT have pledged support for victims’ families while promising to strengthen security measures in classrooms and faculty housing.
The killings have sparked urgent debate over safety in higher education, with students and professors questioning how vulnerable academic spaces have become.
Reactions poured in online. “We send our prayers to the families, but universities must do more to protect us,” one Brown student wrote on X. Others expressed shock at the suspect’s academic past. “It’s chilling to think someone who once walked these halls returned with such violence,” said an MIT alumnus.
Security experts warned the case highlights systemic risks. “Campuses are open by design, but that openness makes them soft targets,” said analyst Karen Douglas.
This is not the first time U.S. universities have faced such tragedy. The Virginia Tech massacre in 2007 left 32 dead, and more recent shootings at Michigan State and UNC Chapel Hill reignited fears about campus safety. Neves‑Valente’s rampage now joins that grim list, underscoring how vulnerable academic institutions remain.
Tributes followed swiftly. Vigils were held at Brown and MIT, where students lit candles and laid flowers in memory of the victims. Professors described Loureiro as “a brilliant mind and a generous mentor,” while classmates remembered the slain Brown students as “bright lights with futures cut short.” The ceremonies drew crowds of mourners, united in grief and determination to honor lives lost.
For many, the tragedy stands as a stark reminder that institutions built for learning can be targeted, leaving communities to grapple with grief, fear, and calls for reform long after the crime scenes are cleared.
