> At a Glance
> – Claudio Neves Valente recorded videos admitting he plotted the Dec. 13-15 rampage for “at least six semesters”
> – He killed two Brown students and MIT Prof. Nuno Loureiro, wounded nine, then died in a N.H. storage unit he rented for three years
> – Videos rebut false Arabic-statement rumors and detail how a Reddit tip on his gray Nissan led to his identification
> – Why it matters: The confession gives survivors the first clear timeline of the attacks and shows how online sleuths helped crack the case
The first complete picture of December’s Ivy-league shooting spree has emerged after the U.S. Department of Justice released translated excerpts of Claudio Neves Valente’s self-recorded videos on Tuesday.
In them, the 48-year-old Portuguese national and former Brown physics student calmly admits he had been refining his plan since at least 2022, shrugged off the idea of apologizing, and expressed surprise that it took police so long to track his gray Nissan-a detail first floated by a Reddit user who recognized him from surveillance photos.
Planned Over Years, Executed in Three Days
Neves Valente said he chose an engineering building at Brown for the Dec. 13 assault, then waited two days before traveling to Brookline to shoot Prof. Loureiro, a former classmate from Portugal. Nine others were injured; he died in a New Hampshire storage facility on Dec. 18.
He called the shootings “a little incompetent” but added, “at least something was done.”
- Six semesters of planning, by his own count
- Targeted a regular classroom, not an auditorium
- Thought the hall was empty; students were hiding under desks
No Motive, Apology or Arabic Phrase
Justice officials released the clips partly to knock down viral claims-amplified by conservative influencer Laura Loomer-that the shooter shouted “Allahu Akbar.” Neves Valente, who said he speaks no Arabic, figured any shout was “Oh no!” on realizing the room appeared deserted.
> “I’m not going to apologize because during my lifetime no one sincerely apologized to me.” – Claudio Neves Valente
He insisted he is not mentally ill, rejected the label “manifesto,” and stressed he wanted to avoid being “the one who ended up suffering the most.”
How Social Media Helped Identify Him
A Brown community member who had crossed paths with Neves Valente posted on Reddit that police should look for a rental gray Nissan; investigators had not yet tied any vehicle to the suspect. Users urged the tipster to contact the FBI, and the plate number helped break the case.
Neves Valente acknowledged the encounter in his video, saying he “never thought it would take them so long to find me.”
| Key Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec. 13 | Brown attack: 2 dead, 9 wounded |
| Dec. 15 | MIT professor killed in Brookline |
| Dec. 18 | Shooter found dead in storage unit, videos recovered |
Campus Recovery Efforts
Brown leaders say a comprehensive recovery plan is underway to support students and staff still grappling with the December tragedy.
Key Takeaways
- Videos prove the attacks were methodically plotted over years, not impulsive
- Neves Valente dismissed speculation about terror links or mental illness
- A Reddit tip on his rental car accelerated the manhunt
- The storage unit he rented for three years served as his final hideout
The confession answers some questions for grieving families, yet the absence of a clear motive ensures the case remains haunting for the Brown and MIT communities.
