Brown University Shooting Suspect Found Dead, Linked to MIT Murder

Suspect in Ivy League Shooting Spree Found Dead in New Hampshire

The manhunt for the suspect in the deadly Brown University shooting that left two students dead and nine injured has ended with the discovery of his body in a New Hampshire storage unit. Authorities have identified the suspect as 48-year-old Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, a former Brown physics graduate student from Portugal who was also linked to the murder of an MIT professor just days later.

Dual Campus Attacks Shock Academic Community

The violence began on Saturday, December 13, 2025, when Valente allegedly entered an economics review session in Brown's Barus and Holley building and opened fire. The attack claimed the lives of two promising students: Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore from Alabama and vice president of Brown's College Republicans, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old freshman from Uzbekistan studying biochemistry and neuroscience. 'Ella was compassionate and courageous, always standing up for what she believed in,' said a fellow student who asked to remain anonymous. 'Aziz had this incredible intellect and dry humor that made everyone around him better.'

Just two days later, on Monday, December 15, MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro was found shot to death in his Brookline, Massachusetts home. The 47-year-old Portuguese physicist, a respected researcher in plasma physics and fusion energy, had no apparent connection to the Brown shooting until investigators discovered both victims had attended the same university in Lisbon, Portugal in the late 1990s.

Investigation Uncovers Connection

Initially, police said there were no indications the crimes were connected. However, as investigators dug deeper, they found surveillance footage showing the same gray Nissan Altima rental car near both crime scenes. The breakthrough came when a tipster recognized the vehicle with Florida plates that Valente had rented in Boston.

According to law enforcement sources, Valente had been surveilling Brown University for nearly two weeks before the attack. He entered the United States in 2000 on a student visa to attend Brown's physics graduate program but left after less than a year. He became a lawful permanent resident in 2017 through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program and had most recently lived in Miami.

Suspect Found Dead in Storage Unit

On Thursday, December 18, authorities found Valente's body in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, just miles from where the rental car was discovered. He had died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound and had been dead for some time when found. Two firearms were recovered at the scene.

'This was a sophisticated individual who took significant steps to cover his tracks,' said Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez during a press conference. 'He obscured his cell phone, switched license plates, and didn't use credit cards in his name. But our investigators worked around the clock, and the public's tips were crucial.'

Motive Remains Unclear

Authorities have been unable to determine a clear motive for the attacks. Valente and Professor Loureiro had both attended the University of Lisbon between 1995 and 2000, but there's no evidence they knew each other personally. Similarly, there's no known connection between Valente and the Brown student victims.

Brown University President Christina Paxson released a statement saying, 'Our entire community is devastated by this senseless violence. We mourn the loss of Ella and Aziz, two brilliant young people with so much promise. We will honor their memories and support all those affected by this tragedy.'

MIT President Sally Kornbluth added, 'Professor Loureiro was an exceptional scholar and beloved colleague. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and the entire MIT community during this difficult time.'

Campus Security Under Scrutiny

The incidents have reignited debates about campus security at American universities. Brown University, founded in 1764 and one of the prestigious Ivy League institutions, has historically maintained an open campus policy. Similarly, MIT, established in 1861, is known for its accessible campus along the Charles River.

Both universities have announced comprehensive security reviews. 'We must balance our commitment to open academic environments with the safety of our students, faculty, and staff,' said Brown's security director Michael Chapman. 'This tragedy will lead to difficult but necessary conversations about how we protect our community.'

The case is now considered closed, with authorities confirming Valente acted alone. Counseling services have been expanded at both institutions as students, faculty, and staff grapple with the aftermath of the violence that has shaken two of America's most prestigious academic communities.