Camilla Jessen
The man suspected of carrying out a deadly shooting at Brown University has been found dead in New Hampshire.
The suspect in the mass shooting at Brown University that left two people dead and nine others wounded has been found dead in New Hampshire, authorities confirmed Thursday evening.
Law enforcement said the man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound as officers surrounded a storage facility they had tracked him to.
The suspect was identified as 48-year-old Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, a former Brown University student from Portugal, according to FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks.
“We got him,” Docks said at a press conference, stressing that the investigation is still ongoing despite the suspect’s death.
Former student linked to multiple attacks
Brown University President Christina Paxson said Neves Valente attended the Ivy League school from 2000 to 2001 as a graduate student in the physics department.
The shooting took place in the Barus and Holley building, where Paxson noted he likely spent significant time during his studies.
Authorities allege Neves Valente entered the building at around 4 p.m. on Dec. 13, as roughly 60 students were leaving a lecture hall. He opened fire, killing two people and wounding nine others, before walking away from the scene.
Investigators also believe he was responsible for the killing of MIT physics professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro in Brookline, Massachusetts, on Dec. 15. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said officials were “100 percent confident” they had identified the correct suspect, while adding that “there’s a lot of unknowns with respect to motive.”
Manhunt and investigation details
Authorities said Neves Valente managed to evade capture for days by switching license plates on a rental car.
Investigators made a breakthrough after releasing an image of a person who crossed paths with him on Dec. 13. That individual helped identify the vehicle, allowing law enforcement to trace its movements from Boston to Providence and later to Brookline.
Earlier in the week, the FBI announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the suspect’s arrest.
Officials said enough surveillance footage was gathered from residents near the Brown campus to build a detailed timeline of the shooter’s movements.
The two victims killed at Brown University were identified as Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov.
As of Dec. 19, six injured victims remained hospitalized in stable condition, while three others had been released. Brown University cancelled final exams and sent students home early for winter break.
Sources: FBI; Rhode Island Attorney General; Brown University; PEOPLE.
