Authorities confirmed that Claudio Manuel Neves Valente was responsible for both the deadly shooting at Brown University and the killing of MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro two days later on December 18. Officials said Claudio Manuel Neves Valente later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, bringing an end to a multi-day manhunt.
Who Was Claudio Manuel Neves Valente?
Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese citizen and former Brown University graduate student, has been identified as the suspect in the fatal shootings at Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Authorities said he was later found dead in New Hampshire in what appears to be a suicide.
Officials confirmed that Neves Valente entered the United States on a student visa and later became a legal permanent resident in 2017 through the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV1) lottery program. Investigators said he had no known criminal record in the U.S. before the attacks.
After the killings, the Trump administration ordered an immediate suspension of the DV1 program. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision on December 19, 2025, saying it was done at the direction of President Donald Trump.
Connection Between Claudio Manuel Neves Valente and MIT Professor Nuno Loureiro
Officials confirmed that Valente and Loureiro knew each other in the past. Both men had attended the same academic program in Portugal between 1995 and 2000, according to investigators. While the exact motive behind the killings is still unknown, authorities said the past academic link between the two men is part of the ongoing investigation.
Claudio Manuel Neves Valente Academic History at Brown University
Claudio Manuel Neves Valente was once a graduate student at Brown University, where he enrolled in the physics PhD program from fall 2000 to spring 2001. He later took a leave of absence in April 2001 and officially withdrew from the program on July 31, 2003, Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed.
During his time at Brown, Valente only took physics courses. Paxson noted that most physics classes are held in the Barus and Holley building, the same location where the December 13 shooting occurred. She insisted that it can be assumed to assume that Valente, when he was a student, spent a great deal of time in that building for classes and other activities as a PhD student in physics. She also stressed that Valente had no current affiliation with the university at the time of the attack.
Claudio Manuel Neves Valente Immigration Status and U.S. Entry
Officials confirmed that Neves Valente entered the United States on a student visa and later became a legal permanent resident in 2017 through the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV1) lottery program. Police said his last known address was in Miami, Florida.
Evidence Shows Suspect Claudio Manuel Neves Valente Near Brown Campus Before Shooting
Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez said investigators found evidence showing Valente was near the Brown University campus hours before the shooting.
Surveillance footage released by police showed a person wearing dark clothing and a mask walking through nearby streets just blocks from the campus on December 13. Investigators believe the suspect was surveying the area ahead of the attack. Investigators believe it was likely the person was “casing” the scene, according to Perez.
How Investigators Tracked Claudio Manuel Neves Valente
Authorities said the investigation, involving four states, confirmed that Claudio Manuel Neves Valente was responsible for both the Brown University and MIT shootings. Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley stated that Valente had taken deliberate steps to avoid detection, including hiding his phone, switching rental car plates, and not using credit cards in his name. Investigators identified him on December 17 using financial, travel, and rental car records linking him to both crime scenes.
Reddit Tip Played a Critical Role in the Manhunt
A Reddit user named John reportedly alerted authorities after noticing suspicious behavior and a grey Nissan with Florida plates, possibly a rental. Investigators used his tip, along with rental car and financial records, to trace Valente to a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, where he was later found dead.
Claudio Manuel Neves Valente Shooting Motive Still Under Investigation
Despite the detailed timeline and evidence, officials said the motive behind the shootings remains unclear. Authorities continue to examine Valente’s background, academic history, and possible personal grievances as part of the ongoing investigation.