Brown University Suspect Died at Least Two Days Before Authorities Found His Body

Brown University Shooting Suspect Found Dead Days After Tragic Incident

A tragic turn of events unfolded following the Brown University mass shooting, where the suspect was discovered dead at least two days prior to authorities finding his body. Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, the identified suspect, was reported to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The timeline of events surrounding Valente’s demise was unveiled by Attorney General John M. Formella and the Chief Medical Examiner through a recent press release.

The 48-year-old former Brown University student, originally from Portugal, was determined to have passed away on December 16, 2025, according to the autopsy report cited by the New Hampshire Department of Justice. The statement also confirmed that Valente’s death was a result of suicide. This revelation sheds light on the circumstances leading up to the deadly shooting that claimed the lives of two individuals and injured nine others.

During a press briefing, officials revealed that the gunman responsible for the tragic incident was found lifeless in a New Hampshire storage facility from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Brown University President Christina Paxson disclosed that Valente had been a graduate student in the physics department at the Ivy League university from 2000 to 2001. Valente’s close association with the Barus & Holley building, where the shooting transpired, raised concerns about his familiarity with the premises.

The fatal attack occurred in the late afternoon, as the lone assailant opened fire in the hallway and proceeded to enter a lecture hall where several students were concluding an economics study session. Among the casualties were Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, identified as the two students who lost their lives. Additionally, Valente has been linked to the demise of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro, further complicating the investigation.

Investigators uncovered a connection between Loureiro and Valente, revealing their shared academic history in Lisbon. The suspect’s movements were eventually traced thanks to an observant Reddit user who provided crucial information about Valente’s whereabouts at the time of the shooting. Identifying a grey Nissan with Florida plates as the suspect’s vehicle, the anonymous tipster enabled law enforcement to locate Valente, concluding a brief yet intense manhunt.

FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks emphasised that despite the suspect’s demise, the investigation into the tragic events was ongoing. The collaborative efforts of various agencies worked tirelessly to piece together the sequence of events leading up to the Brown University shooting and subsequent fatalities. The community remains in a state of mourning as they grapple with the profound loss and seek solace in the wake of such a devastating tragedy.