A series of investigations into fatal shootings at Brown University and of an MIT professor concluded with the identification of a suspect, Claudio Neves Valente, 48, who was later found deceased.
The incidents, which occurred in mid-December, resulted in the deaths of two Brown University students and an MIT professor, as well as injuries to nine others. Authorities determined Valente was responsible for both attacks and located him deceased in a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, several days after the initial shooting.
Incident at Brown University
On Saturday, December 13, 2024, at approximately 4 p.m. ET, a shooting occurred at Brown University's Barus and Holley engineering and physics building in Providence, Rhode Island. The incident took place in a stadium-style seating classroom during an economics class review session or final examinations, with students present.
The attack resulted in the deaths of two Brown University students:
- Ella Cook, 19, a sophomore from Birmingham, Alabama, majoring in French and Mathematics-Economics.
- Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, a freshman who immigrated from Uzbekistan in 2011.
Nine other individuals sustained injuries. As of the following Sunday, seven of the injured were reported to be in critical but stable condition, one remained in critical condition, and one victim was treated at a hospital and subsequently discharged.
Initial Investigation and Detainment
Following the shooting, law enforcement initiated a search for a suspect described as "a male dressed in black" who reportedly fled the scene on foot. Initial surveillance images of a man believed to be connected to the shooting were released, and a $50,000 reward was offered for information. Entry into the Barus and Holley building typically requires card access, though university officials noted periods of high traffic during exam times.
On Sunday morning, December 14, a person of interest, identified as Benjamin Erickson, a man in his 20s, was detained in a hotel room in Coventry, approximately 20 miles southwest of the Brown University campus. This detainment was confirmed by FBI Director Kash Patel.
Investigators, however, subsequently cleared Erickson and released him, shifting their focus as additional evidence emerged.
On Monday, Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez stated that the attack was "definitely targeted," without providing further details at the time.
Suspect Identification and Related Incident
The investigation ultimately identified Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, 48, as the individual responsible for the shootings. Valente, a Portuguese national last known to reside in Miami, was linked not only to the Brown University killings but also to the death of MIT physics professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro.
Professor Loureiro was found deceased at his residence in Brookline, Massachusetts, approximately 50 miles from Brown University, on Monday, December 15, 2024, two days after the Brown incident.
Suspect's Background and Connections
Claudio Neves Valente was a legal permanent resident of the United States, born in Torres Novas, Santarem, Portugal. He arrived in the U.S. in August 2000 on an F-1 visa as a graduate student at Brown University, enrolled in the PhD physics program from fall 2000 to spring 2001, and officially withdrew in fall 2003.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, Leah Foley, confirmed that Valente and Professor Loureiro had attended the same academic program at a university in Portugal between 1995 and 2000.
In May 2017, Valente obtained a "diversity immigrant visa," becoming a legal permanent resident in September 2017. The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program was suspended by the Trump administration following these shootings. Information regarding Valente's activities between 2017 and the days leading up to the shootings has not been publicly detailed.
Discovery of Suspect and Evidence
Valente was located deceased in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, on Thursday, December 18. Authorities tracked him through video surveillance that led to a car rental agency in Massachusetts. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha noted that while prosecution was no longer possible due to Valente's death, his identification might offer some closure to the victims' families.
The Justice Department later reported that Valente had planned the attack for years and left behind videos confessing to the killings.
These videos, which did not provide a motive, were recovered by the FBI from an electronic device found at the storage facility where Valente's body was discovered. Investigators had gathered additional video images and maps throughout the week, showing Valente in the vicinity of the Brown campus hours before and after the shooting. He matched authorities' description of a male, approximately 5'8" with a stocky build.
Key Investigative Details
A Reddit post played a role in the investigation. On December 16, three days after the Brown University shooting, investigators received information about an anonymous post on the Providence sub-Reddit.
The post referenced details about the shooting and suggested police investigate a "grey Nissan with Florida plates, possibly a rental," parked near the Rhode Island Historical Society on Cooke Street, close to the Brown campus.
Attorney General Neronha described this detail as a key breakthrough.
The anonymous witness, identified as "John" in court documents, subsequently approached Providence police on December 17. John provided an account of two encounters with Valente prior to the Brown shooting.
John recounted seeing Valente in a bathroom at Brown's Barus Holley building approximately two hours before the shooting, noting his "flimsy" and "poor quality" attire, which was described as "inappropriate and inadequate" for the weather, and a face mask covering the lower half of his face. John encountered Valente again near the Rhode Island Historical Society, observing him approach a gray Nissan with Florida plates. John described a "cat and mouse" interaction and confronted Valente, who responded, "I don't know you from nobody. Why are you harassing me?"
Victim responses to photos of the suspected shooter were also noted in a police incident report. One victim reacted by freezing, physically pushing back, and crying upon confirming the image. Another victim reportedly took a deep breath, closed their eyes, and confirmed the person in the photos matched the shooter they had seen.
Official and University Response
Following the Brown University shooting, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the campus and surrounding areas, which was lifted on Sunday morning. Brown University canceled nearly all remaining in-person final exams for the fall semester, stating that this decision was made to focus university resources on providing support to community members. The attack occurred days before the university's winter break period.
Providence city officials released heavily redacted video footage and audio clips related to the shooting on Monday, December 22. Officials stated that graphic images were removed to protect victims and maintain community trust. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley emphasized the city's commitment to transparency under the state's Access to Public Records Act while acknowledging the potential trauma for those affected.
The released material included:
- An audio clip from 4:07 p.m. where a campus police officer reported confirmed gunshots at 184 Hope Street and a victim whose location was unknown.
- A subsequent call four minutes later describing a suspect wearing all black and a ski mask.
- Approximately 20 minutes of body camera footage from the initial responding officer, depicting a chaotic scene with officers uncertain if the shooter remained in the building and efforts to find a safe area for evacuated students.
- Additional audio captured officers discussing a possible sighting of the shooter on a second floor and a report of a suspect being taken into custody, which later became clear was likely a mistaken apprehension, leading to instructions for a secondary search.
The city indicated that the release of these records was delayed at the request of victims' families until after a memorial service was held on Brown's campus. Public officials, including President Trump and Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley, issued statements and offered condolences to the victims and their families.