Tragic End to Multi-State Manhunt: Brown University Shooting Suspect Found Deceased

Sat Jan 31 2026 19:22:11 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Claudio Neves Valente, identified as the suspect in a mass shooting at Brown University, has been found dead in a storage facility in New Hampshire, following a week-long manhunt. The incident also links him to the murder of an MIT professor.

Claudio Neves Valente, a Portuguese national, was found dead after a six-day manhunt related to a mass shooting at Brown University that claimed two lives. Authorities suspect him of also murdering an MIT professor and linked both incidents through CCTV footage and a vehicle identification. Initial investigations suggest Valente died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The tragedies have led to significant discussions about gun violence and immigration policy in the United States.

The suspect in last week's mass shooting at Brown University has been found dead in a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, following a six-day multi-state manhunt, police say.

Identified as Claudio Neves Valente, 48, a Portuguese national who studied at the university in Providence, Rhode Island, approximately 25 years ago, Valente's death was confirmed by Providence police chief Oscar Perez. The investigation into his whereabouts was aided significantly by video evidence and tips from the public, eventually leading to a car-rental location where his identity was confirmed.

Valente is also linked to the homicide of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor Nuno F Gomes Loureiro, 47, two days after the shooting at Brown on December 13.

Initial findings from the investigation suggest that Valente died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, although the police have not indicated how long he had been in the storage facility. The motive for either attack remains unclear.

Reports indicate that he was enrolled at Brown University studying for a PhD in physics from autumn 2000 to spring 2001, but had 'no current active affiliation' with the institution.

In a more tragic twist, both Valente and his professor victim had studied at the same university in Portugal during the late 1990s. Evidence was gathered linking Valente to both the Brown shooting and the murder of the MIT professor through vehicle identification and CCTV footage.

The investigations are ongoing, as expressed by FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Ted Docks, who stated, 'Even though the suspect was found dead tonight, our work is not done.' Meanwhile, US policies surrounding immigration have come under scrutiny; Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the suspension of the green card lottery scheme following the tragic events, citing Valente's entry into the US via a program that allows a random selection of immigrants from low-immigration countries.

As the nation grapples with the implications of this tragedy, the shooting at Brown University left two students dead and others injured, creating a significant impact on the community and raising further discussions on gun violence in America.