The suspect behind the deadly Brown University shooting has been found dead in the United States, ending a five-day manhunt linked to one of the most shocking campus attacks in recent years.
US authorities confirmed that Claudio Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national, was discovered inside a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, where he had taken his own life. Two firearms and other evidence were recovered at the scene.
The case has drawn international attention after police confirmed Valente was also responsible for the killing of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor, days after the university shooting.
What happened at Brown University?
The Brown University shooting took place during a study session on campus in Providence, Rhode Island, on Saturday evening.
According to investigators, the gunman entered a classroom and fired more than 44 rounds of ammunition in a matter of minutes.
Two students were killed, and nine others were injured, several of them seriously. The victims were later named as Ella Cook, 19, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, both first-year students.
Cook, who was from Alabama, was active in student politics and church life. Umurzokov, originally from Uzbekistan, was described by his family as a gifted student with hopes of becoming a neurosurgeon.
Tributes poured in from classmates and faculty, describing both as bright, kind, and deeply committed to their studies.
Who was Claudio Neves Valente?
Police identified the suspect as Claudio Neves Valente, a Portuguese national who had lived in the United States for more than two decades.
He arrived on a student visa around 25 years ago and became a lawful permanent resident in 2017, according to officials.
BREAKING: Face photo of Portuguese national Claudio Neves Valente, the suspected Brown University shooter
Here’s what we know:
– 48 years old
– NOT a U.S. citizen
– Green card holder from Portugal
– Once was a Brown University student
– Found dead in a Salem, NH storage unit… pic.twitter.com/aXjOx6j32U— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) December 19, 2025
Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed Valente had a brief academic history at the institution.
“He was a physics PhD student at Brown from the fall of 2000 to the spring of 2001 before formally withdrawing in 2003,” Paxson said in a message to staff and students.
Authorities have stressed that Valente had no official role at the university at the time of the shooting.
How is the MIT professor killing connected?
Two days after the Brown University attack, MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro, a 47-year-old physicist and fusion scientist, was shot multiple times at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts. He later died from his injuries in the hospital.
US prosecutors confirmed Valente was responsible for the killing. Both men were Portuguese nationals, and investigators believe they may have attended the same university in Lisbon, though no clear motive has yet been established.
“On December 15, [Valente] murdered MIT professor Nuno Loureiro at Loureiro’s home,” said Leah Foley, the US Attorney for Massachusetts.
It remains unclear whether the two men had any recent contact.
How did police track the suspect?
Investigators said the breakthrough came after analysing surveillance footage and receiving a crucial public tip. Video evidence helped identify a vehicle linked to the suspect, which was traced to a rental car company in Massachusetts.
From there, police obtained rental records containing Valente’s name and photographs, which matched images captured near the Brown University crime scene.
The vehicle was later found abandoned in New Hampshire, where officers eventually located Valente inside a storage unit.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha credited a single tipster with unlocking the investigation.
“That person blew this case right open. It led us to the car, the name, and evidence that matched exactly what we saw in Providence,” he said.
Authorities added that Valente had changed licence plates while travelling, making him harder to track.
Where was the suspect found?
Valente was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a commercial storage facility in Salem.
Alongside his body, police recovered two firearms, a satchel, and forensic evidence linking him directly to the Brown University shooting.
Providence Police Chief Colonel Oscar Perez confirmed the outcome late on Thursday night. “I will tell you that he took his own life tonight,” Perez said.
An arrest warrant charging Valente with two counts of murder and more than 20 firearms and assault-related offences had been issued just hours earlier.
Is a motive known?
Officials say there is no confirmed motive for either shooting. Investigators revealed that Valente used untraceable phones and credit cards not registered in his name, describing him as highly deliberate in avoiding detection.
The FBI continues to review digital and physical evidence recovered during the search.
How are universities responding?
Brown University has increased security measures and expanded mental health and counselling services for students and staff. Similar precautions have been reported at other US universities in the wake of the attack.
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee acknowledged the long road ahead for those affected. “Nothing can fully bring closure to the lives that have been shattered by this violence, but our commitment is to support recovery and healing,” he said.
Why does this matter to a UK audience?
While the shootings occurred in the US, the case resonates strongly in the UK, where thousands of British students study at American universities each year.
It also highlights stark differences between UK and US gun laws, as well as growing concerns about student safety, mental health, and campus security worldwide.
