Executive Summary
- The FBI has taken over as the lead agency in the investigation of the Brown University and MIT shootings.
- Authorities confirmed the case remains “open and active” despite the suicide of suspect Claudio Neves Valente.
- Valente was identified as the shooter in incidents that killed two students and a professor across two states.
- Investigative filings detail the tracking of Valente’s vehicle across Rhode Island and Massachusetts prior to his death.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has officially assumed the lead role in the multi-state investigation concerning the mass shooting at Brown University and the subsequent murder of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor, officials confirmed. While the primary suspect is deceased, federal authorities indicate the case remains an ongoing priority.
According to Kristen Setera, a spokeswoman for the FBI, the inquiry is still in progress despite the death of the suspected gunman. “It remains an open and active investigation, and to protect its integrity I’m going to decline further comment,” Setera told The Providence Journal regarding the bureau’s current operational status.
Providence Police Detective Maj. David Lapatin confirmed the jurisdictional shift, noting that the FBI formally took the lead on December 18. This date coincides with the discovery of the suspect, 48-year-old Claudio Neves Valente, who died by suicide in a storage unit in New Hampshire. Prior to this transition, the Providence Police Department had spearheaded the inquiry with federal assistance.
Authorities have identified Valente as the individual responsible for the December 13 shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island, which resulted in the deaths of two students and injuries to nine others. Investigators also linked Valente to the December 15 murder of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts.
An affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court in Boston by FBI Special Agent Bryce Ferrara detailed the investigative work tracking Valente’s movements across state lines. The filing cites surveillance footage capturing Valente’s rented Nissan on Brighton Avenue in Boston on December 15, as well as license plate reading data placing the vehicle in Providence on December 12.
Special Agent Ferrara, a member of the FBI Boston Division’s Violent Crimes Task Force, wrote that probable cause existed to believe Valente transported a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce. On the same day the federal affidavit was filed, Providence Police Detective Ryan Fedo had requested a warrant for Valente’s arrest on 25 charges, including two counts of first-degree murder.
Investigative Outlook
The transition of leadership to the FBI signals the complexity of the case, which spans multiple jurisdictions including Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. While the identification and subsequent death of the suspect resolves the immediate manhunt, the designation of the case as “open and active” suggests federal investigators are focused on forensic finality, tracing the acquisition of the weaponry, and formally closing procedural loops regarding the timeline of events. Ensuring a comprehensive investigation is standard protocol in high-profile mass casualty events to rule out any potential accomplices or overlooked criminal elements. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
