An illegal alien who killed innocent students and a professor in a multi-state shooting spree has evaded justice through suicide, leaving critical questions unanswered about how our immigration system failed to prevent this tragedy.
Story Overview
- Portuguese national Claudio Manuel Neves Valente killed 2 Brown students, injured 9, and murdered an MIT professor before taking his own life
- Suspect entered the US on a student visa in the early 2000s, obtained permanent residency in 2017 despite leaving studies in 2001
- Authorities found Valente dead in a New Hampshire storage unit after a 5-day search, and guns were discovered at the scene
- No motive was disclosed for the attacks that terrorized two prestigious universities and the surrounding communities
Foreign Student Turned Mass Killer
Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national, committed suicide in a Salem, New Hampshire, storage unit as authorities closed in on him for a deadly shooting spree.
The former Brown University physics student killed two students and wounded nine others during an economics exam reviewon Saturday, then murdered MIT professor Nuno Gomes Loureiro in his Brookline home three days later. Valente’s body was discovered with firearms after authorities obtained a federal search warrant for the storage facility.
A couple of photos from last night's discovery of the alleged gunman responsible for shooting and killing 2 Brown University students and an MIT professor in 2 separate shootings over the weekend.
Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente was found dead inside by authorities. pic.twitter.com/mgPQ2laiZI— Kevin Wiles, Jr (@kwilesjrphoto) December 19, 2025
Immigration System Failures Exposed
Valente’s presence in America raises serious questions about our immigration oversight. He entered the United States on a student visa in the early 2000s to pursue a PhD in physics at Brown University.
Despite taking his last class in 2001 and going on leave of absence, he somehow remained in the country and obtained lawful permanent resident status in 2017. This case highlights how foreign nationals can exploit our generous student visa program and immigration system to remain here indefinitely, even when they abandon their stated educational purposes.
Campus Security Concerns Highlight Vulnerabilities
The Brown University shooting occurred in the Barus & Holley Building, where Valente had spent considerable time as a former student. A witness who confronted Valente before the attack provided crucial information that “blew this case right open,” according to Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha.
The fact that a former student could return to campus decades later and carry out such an attack exposes dangerous security gaps at our universities. These institutions prioritize open access over protecting American students from potential threats.
Manhunt Reveals Sophisticated Evasion Tactics
Valente evaded capture for five days by repeatedly changing the license plates on his rental car, which he initially obtained in Boston. His methodical approach suggests premeditation and planning that authorities failed to anticipate or prevent.
The killer’s ability to rent a storage unit in New Hampshire while conducting a multi-state crime spree demonstrates how easily criminals can exploit our interconnected systems.
Law enforcement ultimately tracked him through the rental car records, but only after he had claimed three lives and terrorized two academic communities.
The deaths of these innocent Americans represent another failure of our immigration and security systems to protect law-abiding citizens. While authorities declare “there’s no longer a threat to the public,” the underlying problems that allowed this foreign national to remain in America and commit these heinous acts remain unaddressed.
