Law enforcement sources and local media report that the suspect connected to the mass shooting at Brown University was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted...
Suspect in Brown University Mass Shooting Found Dead in New Hampshire Storage Facility, Authorities Say
Key developments
Law enforcement sources and local media report that the suspect connected to the mass shooting at Brown University was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire. Authorities announced the discovery Thursday evening after tactical teams spent hours at an Extra Space Storage facility on Hampshire Road.
The suspect has been identified by the FBI as 48-year-old Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente, a Portuguese national. The announcement came as the city of Providence and Brown University continued to recover from a weekend attack that killed two students and wounded nine others.
Who was the suspect?
- Name: Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente (identified by the FBI)
- Age: 48
- Nationality: Portuguese
Officials said Neves-Valente was located in a storage facility in Salem and was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators have been working to establish his movements and any possible motives and connections.
Victims and campus impact
The shooting occurred around 4 p.m. on Saturday during a finals-week study session in the Barus and Holley Building on Brown's campus. Two students were killed: 19-year-old sophomore Ella Cook of Mountain Brook, Alabama, and 18-year-old freshman Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov of Uzbekistan. Nine other people were wounded.
The attack prompted an immediate, large-scale law enforcement response. Hundreds of officers searched the campus and nearby Providence neighborhoods while students and staff were ordered to shelter in place. The community remains deeply affected as families, classmates and university officials mourn.
Investigation and possible links to MIT professor killing
Law enforcement sources told Boston 25 News they are investigating whether there is any connection between the Brown shooting and a separate fatal shooting of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor in Brookline earlier this week. Authorities say detectives are examining potential ties but have not publicly confirmed a direct link.
Timeline and investigative steps
- Saturday afternoon: Shooting at Brown University’s Barus and Holley Building during a finals review session.
- Days after: Police canvassed neighborhoods for surveillance footage; investigators identified images of a person of interest described as a masked, stocky figure about 5'8" with an unusual gait.
- Detectives: Initially questioned another person of interest at a hotel outside Providence but later ruled that individual out.
- Thursday evening: Law enforcement located a storage unit tied to Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente in Salem, New Hampshire. Tactical teams were on scene; authorities later announced the suspect was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
What is known and what remains unclear
Confirmed: The suspect has been identified as Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente and was found dead in a Salem storage unit from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Two Brown University students were killed and nine others injured in Saturday’s shooting.
Unconfirmed / under investigation: Whether Neves-Valente had ties to the MIT professor’s killing in Brookline or other incidents; motive for the Brown University attack; details about how Neves-Valente traveled to and from the campus; and whether others were involved or knew of the plan.
Community and university response
Brown University officials, city leaders and law enforcement agencies are coordinating victim support, memorial services and an ongoing investigation. Counseling and support resources have been made available to students and staff as the campus and broader Providence community grieve.
Why this matters and next steps
The rapid identification and recovery of a suspect brings some procedural closure to a violent incident that shook a college campus during finals week. However, the unanswered questions about motive and any broader threats mean investigators will continue forensic work, witness interviews and digital evidence searches.
Authorities have asked anyone with information, photos or video from the area during the time of the shooting to come forward. Expect additional briefings from the FBI, state and local police as the investigation continues.
This is a developing story. We will update this article as authorities release more information.