Suspect in shootings of Brown University and MIT professor found dead

December 19, 2025

A six-day manhunt ended when authorities discovered the body of Claudio Neves Valente, 48, in a New Hampshire storage facility following his alleged involvement in a mass shooting at Brown University that killed two students and injured nine others. The Portuguese national, who briefly studied physics at Brown over two decades ago, is also suspected of killing an MIT professor two days after the university attack, with both men having attended the same Portuguese university in the 1990s. Investigators tracked Valente through video footage and public tips to a car rental location, and evidence suggests he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Who is affected

Ella Cook, 19, a second-year Brown University student from Alabama (killed)
Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, an Uzbek-American first-year Brown University student (killed)
Nine injured students from the Brown University shooting, with six remaining hospitalized
Nuno F Gomes Loureiro, 47, an MIT professor (killed)
Brown University community, particularly students preparing for final exams
Claudio Neves Valente, 48, the suspect (found dead)
Future applicants to the diversity visa lottery program

What action is being taken

Approximately 500 FBI agents are assisting local authorities in the investigation
Six victims remain hospitalized receiving medical treatment
The U.S. has suspended the green card diversity lottery visa program

Why it matters

This incident represents a significant tragedy at an Ivy League institution where two young students lost their lives during exam preparation, highlighting campus security vulnerabilities. The case has broader immigration policy implications, prompting immediate suspension of a visa program that provides 50,000 annual visas through random selection. The sophistication of the suspect in evading detection for six days, including using tracking-obfuscation technology, underscores challenges law enforcement faces in modern investigations. The connection between both victims and the suspect through a Portuguese university raises questions about targeted violence and international academic communities.

What's next

FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Ted Docks stated that despite finding the suspect dead, "our work is not done. There are many questions that need to be answered," indicating the investigation will continue to determine motives and other details.

Read full article from source: BBC