Mass Shooter Eyed Suspect In MIT Prof's Slaying Dead By Suicide

BROOKLINE, MA — The man charged with killing two Brown University students and injured eight others was found dead — and may have a link to the slaying of an M.I.T. professor two days later — but questions linger.

"Even though the suspect was found dead, our work is not done," said FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks, pointing out the killer's motive remains unknown.

Officials identified the killer as Claudio Neves Valente, a 48-year-old former Brown student and Portugese national living in Miami.

Valente was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a Salem, New Hampshire, storage unit by an FBI SWAT team, officials said.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said there was a satchel and two firearms in the unit along with Valente's body.

An arrest warrant charging Valente with two counts of murder and 23 felony counts of assault and felony firearms offenses had been issued Thursday, according to the attorney general's office.

Massachusetts and New Hampshire State Police reportedly found a gray Nissan Sentra in Salem, NH shortly after 5:30 p.m. Thursday that is associated with the person of interest in the killing and was seen in the vicinity of the area of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro's home at the time of the murder.

Earlier on Thursday, authorities were investigating potential connections between the professor's killing and the shooting at Brown University that killed two students and critically injured 9, according to multiple sources, including the New York Post and WPRI Target 12. Earlier in the week, the FBI said it knew of no connection between the crimes.

The U.S. Attorney's Office considered the connections solid, disseminating a press release titled, "U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, FBI, and ATF Announce Death of the Brown University and MIT Professor Shooter."

While no arrests have been made in either case, police have released images and video of the person of interest in the Brown University incident. A second person, whose photo was released on Wednesday, and was described as being "in proximity to" the first person, has been located and is reportedly not believed to be involved in the attack.

The manhunt for Loureiro's killer is a combined effort by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office, Brookline Police Officers, and MIT Police. The university announced key card access will be required for all buildings at least through this coming weekend.

Loureiro, 47, was found suffering from gunshot wounds after police responded to his apartment at 9 Gibbs St. at approximately 8:30 p.m.

After hearing what sounded like numerous shots, Loureiro’s neighbor Louise Cohen reportedly opened her door and found the professor lying on his back in the building’s shared foyer with multiple gunshot wounds. She, along with others, called 911 immediately.

Loureiro was rushed to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, where he later died from his injuries Tuesday morning. The Portugal native was a decorated professor of nuclear science and engineering. In 2024, he became the director of Plasma Science and Fusion Center Director, one of the university’s largest and most prominent labs.

Loureiro is survived by his wife, Ines, and their three children. His family was reportedly home at the time of his killing.

Police have increased their presence in the neighborhood of his home and on MIT's campus for search and safety reasons. College campuses across the state have stepped up security in the wake of the deadly shootings.

See Also:

• Mass. Colleges Tighten Security Following Brown University Shooting
• MIT Working To Support Community In Aftermath Of Professor's Murder
• MIT Professor Killed In Brookline Home
• Who Was Nuno Loureiro?