Claudio Neves Valente, the primary suspect in a fatal shooting at Brown University, has been found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a New Hampshire storage facility. The discovery in Salem on Thursday night concluded a five-day manhunt launched after the violent incident that left two students dead and nine others injured on the Providence campus. Providence Police Chief Colonel Oscar Perez confirmed Valente’s death, stating he took his own life.

The tragic events unfolded last Saturday when Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national, allegedly opened fire on the Ivy League campus. University President Christina Paxson identified Valente as a former physics PhD student at Brown, enrolled from Fall 2000 to Spring 2001 before taking a leave of absence and formally withdrawing in 2003. The motive behind the devastating attack remains unclear to investigators.

Following the discovery of Valente’s body, authorities located a satchel, two firearms, and other crucial evidence within the Salem storage unit. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha stated this evidence “matches exactly what we see at the scene here in Providence,” strengthening the case against Valente. Police officials have indicated their belief that Valente acted alone in the Brown University shooting.

The extensive manhunt involved a multi-agency effort across state lines. Law enforcement pieced together Valente’s movements by meticulously reviewing video footage, which provided a description of a vehicle. This led them to a car rental agency in Massachusetts, where they obtained the suspect’s rental agreement, confirming his identity and providing critical leads in the investigation.

Attorney General Neronha highlighted the pivotal role of a public tip-off in breaking the case open. “That person led us to the car, which led us to the name, which led us to the photographs of that individual renting the car, which matched the clothing of our shooter here in Providence, that matched the satchel,” Neronha explained. Valente’s rented vehicle was subsequently located in New Hampshire, though he had attempted to evade detection by changing its license plates.

Investigators are also actively exploring a potential connection between the Brown University shooting and the murder of an MIT professor in Massachusetts, which occurred two days later. Nuno F.G. Loureiro, a 47-year-old physicist and fusion scientist, was fatally shot multiple times at his home in Brookline, approximately 50 miles northeast of Providence. His death is being investigated as a homicide.

Officials revealed that Loureiro, like Valente, was a Portuguese national. Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks of the FBI Boston field office stated that both men are believed to have attended the same university in Lisbon, suggesting a prior association. While authorities have not yet publicly confirmed a definitive link, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press that investigators believe Valente is responsible for both violent incidents.

The Providence Police Department and the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office, which is handling the MIT professor’s case, have declined to comment on the ongoing investigation. This silence reflects the active nature of inquiries into the potential double homicide. Earlier in the Brown University investigation, police had briefly detained a person of interest but released him after evidence pointed in a different direction.

The Brown University community continues to mourn the profound loss of the two students killed in the campus shooting. Ella Cook, a 19-year-old from Alabama, was a dedicated member and vice president of the Brown University College Republicans. Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old from Uzbekistan, was pursuing a dream of becoming a neurosurgeon, according to a GoFundMe campaign established by his grieving family.

Tributes poured in for Ella Cook, described by Reverend Craig Smalley as an “incredible, grounded, faithful bright light.” The College Republicans of America praised her “bold, brave and kind heart” and her commitment to her chapter and fellow classmates. Her sudden death has left a significant void among those who knew her.

Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov was remembered as “incredibly kind, funny and smart,” and the “biggest role model” for his family. His family’s GoFundMe page highlighted his selfless nature, stating he “always lent a helping hand to anyone in need without hesitation, and was the most kind-hearted person our family knew.” The loss has devastated his loved ones.

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee assured the public of continued state support for Providence, Brown University, and the state’s residents in their recovery from the traumatic events. As investigations proceed into Valente’s motive and the full scope of his alleged actions, the communities affected grapple with the aftermath of these shocking acts of violence.

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Keywords: Brown University shooting, Claudio Neves Valente, MIT professor murder, Nuno F.G. Loureiro, Rhode Island crime, New Hampshire manhunt, Campus violence investigation, Portuguese national suspect