Understanding the Brown University Shooting Investigation
Police are investigating a shooting at Brown University and another related death. The main suspect, Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente, a man from Portugal, was found dead. Officials believe he is connected to the fatal shooting of an MIT professor.
Who Was Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente?
- Valente was a Portuguese national.
- He was found dead on Thursday, after the Brown University shooting.
- He came to the U.S. on a student visa in 2000 to study physics at Brown.
- Later, he became a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) in 2017.
Valente's Journey to the U.S.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha explained Valente's immigration history:
- August 2000: Valente arrived in the U.S. on an F-1 student visa to attend Brown University.
- He studied physics at Brown until April 2001.
- December 2000: He left the U.S. but returned the next month.
- May 2017: He received a Diversity Immigrant Visa.
- Later in 2017: He applied for and received lawful permanent resident status.
Connecting Two Tragedies: The MIT Professor
Investigators believe Valente is also linked to the death of Nuno Loureiro, a 47-year-old physics professor at MIT. Professor Loureiro was found shot dead in his home in Brookline, Massachusetts, on Monday night.
Possible Shared Past in Portugal
An FBI official, Ted Docks, said that Valente and Professor Loureiro might have attended the same university in Lisbon, Portugal. Professor Loureiro's background shows he studied and researched at Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon before joining MIT.
Evidence Linking Valente to Both Crimes
Leah B. Foley, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, stated that security video connects Valente to both incidents:
- Police identified a rented car that Valente drove from Boston to Brown University and back.
- Security footage shows Valente within half a mile of Professor Loureiro's home in Brookline.
- Video also shows him entering an apartment building near the professor's home.
- Later that evening, Valente was seen entering a storage unit wearing the same clothes he wore right after the murder.
Valente's Time at Brown University
Brown University President Christina H. Paxson provided details about Valente's enrollment:
- September 2000: Valente was accepted into Brown's graduate program for a Master of Science and PhD in physics.
- April 2001: He took a break from his studies.
- July 2003: He officially withdrew from the university.
- He only took physics classes.
- Most physics classes were held in the Barus & Holley building, which is where the Brown University shooting took place.
