Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese academic, was found dead in a Salem, New Hampshire storage unit after police linked him to a mass shooting at Brown University and the killing of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro.
Background and Early Career
Neves Valente graduated at the top of his class from Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, earning a final average of 19 out of 20 in technological physics engineering during 1995-2000. He represented Portugal at the 1995 International Physics Olympiad in Canberra, Australia, and was noted by the Portuguese newspaper Expresso for his exceptional academic record.
Brown University Mass Shooting
On Saturday, a shooting at Brown University’s Barus & Holley building left two students dead-Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov from Uzbekistan and Ella Cook from Birmingham, Alabama-and injured nine others. The victims were identified by their classmates and community members; Umurzokov was remembered as kind and smart, while Cook was described as an “incredible, grounded, faithful, bright light.”
Killing of MIT Professor Nuno Loureiro
On Monday, Nuno Loureiro, a 47-year-old professor of plasma physics and fusion science at MIT, was shot to death in his home in Brookline, a Boston suburb. Loureiro had joined MIT in 2016 and was a world-renowned researcher; a YouTube video earlier this year showed him advising students to tackle hard problems.
Investigation and Discovery
A tipster on the Reddit forum led authorities to a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, where Neves Valente’s body was found. The police affidavit stated that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He had obtained legal permanent resident status in 2017, lived in Las Vegas that year, and more recently appeared to reside in Miami. Public records show he rented a hotel room in Boston twice in late November, according to an FBI affidavit.
Connections to Brown and Loureiro
A Providence police affidavit revealed that Neves Valente attended Brown University on a student visa from August 2000 to spring 2001 in the physics Ph.D. program. He requested a leave of absence in 2001 and withdrew in 2003, never earning a degree. Brown’s president confirmed that he had no current affiliation with the university. During his three semesters, he likely spent time in Barus & Holley.
Scott Watson, who attended Brown with Neves Valente, described him as socially awkward, often complaining that classes were too easy. Watson wrote, “He would say the classes were too easy – honestly, for him they were,” Watson wrote in an email, and noted that Neves Valente could be kind but became frustrated or angry about courses, professors, and living conditions. Watson also recalled a conflict with another student he referred to as a “slave” because the student was from Brazil, and that he had to break up a fight.
Both Neves Valente and Loureiro studied at Instituto Superior Técnico from 1995 to 2000. Rogério Colaço, the university’s president, told Expresso that Neves Valente graduated with a 19/20 average, while Loureiro was described by the institute as a “brilliant colleague.” A statement from IPFN and Técnico said that friends and colleagues are deeply distressed by Loureiro’s premature passing.
Alex Schekochihin, a longtime friend of Loureiro, wrote in an email that it was difficult to find anyone who did not like Loureiro. He praised Loureiro as a fantastic physicist, an effective leader with a clear vision and sophisticated sense of strategy, and an amazing human being.
Portuguese Police Cooperation
The Portuguese Criminal Police, Portugal’s investigative force, confirmed cooperation with U.S. authorities in the investigation. The tip from Reddit was instrumental in locating Neves Valente after the shootings.
Key Takeaways
- Claudio Neves Valente, 48, linked to Brown University shooting and MIT professor killing.
- Body found in Salem, NH storage unit; death ruled a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
- Neves Valente’s academic background includes top honors at Instituto Superior Técnico and participation in the 1995 International Physics Olympiad.
- Brown University shooting killed Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook; nine others injured.
- MIT professor Nuno Loureiro, 47, was shot in Brookline; he joined MIT in 2016.
- Connections to Brown: Neves Valente attended 2000-2001, withdrew in 2003, no degree earned.
- Connections to Loureiro: both attended Instituto Superior Técnico 1995-2000; Loureiro described as brilliant colleague.
- Investigation aided by Reddit tip; Portuguese police cooperating with U.S. authorities.
Closing
The discovery of Neves Valente’s body and the investigation into his alleged motives have left both Brown University and MIT communities in shock. While authorities continue to piece together his connections and possible motives, the tragedies at Brown and MIT underscore the devastating impact of violent acts on academic communities worldwide.
