Authorities have confirmed that the man suspected of carrying out deadly shootings connected to Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has been found dead, bringing an end to a tense, multi-state search that gripped academic communities across the northeastern United States.
The suspect, identified as 48-year-old Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, was discovered inside a rented storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire. According to officials, he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. An autopsy later determined that his death occurred two days before his body was found, aligning with the timeline of the second fatal shooting under investigation.
The case began with a shooting on the Brown University campus in Providence, Rhode Island, where a gunman opened fire inside an academic building during a busy study period. Two students lost their lives, and several others were injured, prompting a large-scale emergency response and lockdown measures in parts of the city. The attacker fled before police arrived, launching an intensive manhunt.
Just days later, a second shooting took place in Brookline, Massachusetts. An MIT professor was fatally shot inside his residential building, initially leading investigators to believe the incidents were unrelated. However, subsequent forensic analysis and surveillance data revealed connections between the two crimes.
A critical breakthrough came from an online tip. A former Brown student posted details on social media about a suspicious individual and vehicle near campus shortly after the first shooting. That information was later forwarded to law enforcement, helping investigators trace a rental car linked to the suspect and ultimately locate the storage unit where his body was found.
Inside the unit, authorities recovered firearms and ammunition that were later confirmed through ballistic testing to be connected to both crime scenes. Investigators also reconstructed the suspect’s travel and rental history across several states, indicating careful planning and deliberate movement following the attacks.
Further inquiry revealed a possible academic link between the suspect and the MIT victim, as both had studied at the same university in Portugal years earlier. Officials emphasized that while this connection is being examined, no clear motive has been formally established.
Law enforcement agencies from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and federal authorities collaborated throughout the investigation. Officials credited public cooperation for helping resolve the case and urged caution against online speculation that had, at times, targeted innocent individuals during the manhunt.
As campuses resume normal operations, university leaders have reiterated commitments to student safety and mental health support. Vigils and memorials have been held to honor the victims, while investigators continue to review evidence to better understand what led to the violence.
Authorities stated that while the suspect’s death closes the active pursuit, the broader investigation remains focused on transparency, accountability, and preventing similar tragedies in the future.
