PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The man accused of a devastating mass shooting at Brown University and the murder of an MIT professor has been discovered dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in New Hampshire. Claudio Neves Valente's tragic demise comes shortly after the shootings on December 13, where two students were killed and nine others injured during a lecture at Brown.
Once a bright physics student in Portugal, Valente's academic journey took a downward turn after being dismissed from Instituto Superior Técnico in 2000 and leaving Brown University without completing his graduate studies. Recent investigations reveal that he had a complicated relationship with his peers, particularly with the slain professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro, with whom he had previously studied.
Despite a promising start, Valente's academic career declined, prompting questions about his motives for the violent incidents. Witness reports indicate that he disguised himself in typical restaurant worker attire during the Brown shooting.
Authorities have not established a motive for his actions, leading to numerous inquiries about his psychological state and the circumstances leading up to the attacks. Following a nationwide investigation, including engagement with agencies in Portugal, officials continue to seek clarity on why Valente chose to carry out such horrific acts.
Valente's life after leaving Brown remains largely a mystery, with sparse records of his activities until he obtained legal permanent residency in 2017. His last known address was near Miami, in a neighborhood characterized by mixed-income families.
The tragic outcomes of these events have left the communities of Brown University and MIT reeling, and further investigation is ongoing as scholars and authorities seek to understand the depth of this sorrowful case.
