A former Brown University student and Portuguese national, Claudio Neves Valente, who was identified as the shooter responsible for the deaths of two Brown University students and an MIT professor, had premeditated the attack for six semesters, as revealed by the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday. Neves Valente, 48, was discovered deceased in a New Hampshire storage facility after perpetrating the shootings at an engineering building on Dec. 13, where two students were killed and nine others injured, and subsequently, on Dec. 15, killing MIT Prof. Nuno F.G. Loureiro at his residence in Brookline, a Boston suburb.
Law enforcement officials disclosed that following the discovery of Neves Valente’s body in the storage facility, the FBI recovered an electronic device containing a series of brief videos made by Neves Valente post the shootings. In these recordings, the shooter confessed in Portuguese to meticulously planning the Brown University shooting without providing a clear motive for targeting Brown or the MIT professor, with whom he had studied in Portugal years ago. He expressed a lack of remorse and a desire to end his life on his own terms, citing dissatisfaction with a prior eye injury sustained during the shootings.
Neves Valente, who authorities confirmed died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, emphasized in the videos his intention to control the outcome of his actions and avoid personal suffering. He also referenced a confrontation with a witness at Brown University, who eventually aided in his identification by notifying the FBI about a gray Nissan associated with the perpetrator. Neves Valente mentioned that the witness had observed his license plate and was surprised by the delay in his apprehension by law enforcement.
Regarding his feelings towards the United States, where he arrived roughly 25 years ago to pursue physics studies at Brown University before departing in 2001, Neves Valente stated he harbored neither affection nor aversion towards the country. Having held a student visa during his time at Brown and acquiring legal permanent residency in 2017, his most recent known address was in Miami. Neves Valente’s comments in the recordings reflected a detached attitude towards various places he had resided, indicating a prolonged period of emotional detachment.