The tragic events surrounding Claudio Neves Valente culminated with a significant investigation following two deadly shootings. The first shooting occurred on December 1, 2025, at Brown University, targeting two students, Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, while the second involved the death of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Timeline of Key Events
Early Connection to Victim
- 1995: Claudio Neves Valente and Nuno Loureiro started an academic program in physics in Portugal.
- 2000: Loureiro graduated from Instituto Superior Técnico, while Neves Valente’s contract as a teaching assistant ended, though details remain unclear.
Academic Journey in the US
- 2000: Neves Valente began studying at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, under an F-1 visa.
- 2003: He withdrew from Brown after three semesters without earning a degree.
- 2017: Neves Valente reentered the US through the diversity visa program, gaining permanent residency.
Suspicious Actions and the Shootings
- November 2025: Neves Valente rented a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, displaying suspicious behavior.
- December 1: Neves Valente rented a gray Nissan Sentra, which was later seen near Brown University.
- December 1: He opened fire at Barus & Holley building, leading to the deaths of Cook and Umurzokov, and injured nine others.
- December 14: After returning to Massachusetts, Neves Valente swapped his rental car’s license plates to evade capture.
- December 16: Nuno Loureiro was shot in Brookline, following Neves Valente’s suspicious tracking near the professor’s residence.
Final Days and Discovery
Neves Valente was found deceased on December 18, 2025, inside a storage unit in New Hampshire, having taken his own life. Authorities confirmed he had done this within two days of Loureiro’s death. The investigation revealed no known motive behind these attacks, despite Neves Valente’s academic history with Loureiro.
Investigation Highlights
- Video footage captured Neves Valente’s movements, including a suspicious interaction with an individual named John prior to the shootings.
- 44 spent 9 mm casings and high-capacity magazines were collected from the scene at Brown University.
- Authorities relied on community tips, including a critical tip from John that prompted police to identify Neves Valente’s vehicle.
This series of events has raised many questions regarding Neves Valente’s motivations and connections to the victims. The investigations are ongoing as authorities seek to understand the mindset of a suspect who meticulously planned his actions over decades.
