Although the suspect was found dead, several questions related to the incident and its motive remain to be clarified.
The suspect in the shooting at Brown University attended the institution for three semesters as a graduate student and had no active connection to the university at the time of the attack on Saturday, according to CNN, which cites a statement from President Christina H. Paxson.
“He was not a current student, was not an employee and did not obtain any academic degree from the University, having attended only three semesters. Neves Valente was admitted to the Brown Graduate School to study in the Sc.M–PhD program in Physics,” the statement said, adding that the suspect was enrolled from fall 2000 to spring 2001.
He subsequently requested a leave of absence and formally withdrew from the university with effect from 31 July 2003.
“During his time at Brown, Neves Valente was only enrolled in physics classes, and it is likely that he attended classes and spent time in the Barus & Holley building. Nothing can fully bring closure to the lives that were shattered by last weekend’s gun violence. Now, however, our community has the opportunity to move forward and begin a path of repair, recovery and healing,” Paxson added, referring to the building where the shooting occurred.
According to prosecutors, the suspect in the Brown University shooting was only associated with the murder of an MIT professor several days later, because he was “sophisticated at covering his tracks.”
Cláudio Neves Valente worked as a monitor at Instituto Superior Técnico, and his contract was terminated by president João Hipólito on February 29, 2000.
Born January 22, 1977 in Torres Vedras, he obtained legal permanent resident status in the USA in 2017. His last known address was in Miami.
“Why Brown? Why these students?”
Cláudio Neves Valente, identified by police as a suspect in both crimes, allegedly used an untraceable cell phone and avoided using credit cards in his name, said the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, Leah Foley.
Investigators suspect that Neves Valente may have used European SIM cards through a European supplier, which made it difficult to track his location in real time.
Although the suspect was found dead, the Rhode Island Attorney General says several questions related to the incident and its motive remain unresolved.
Why Brown University, in particular, was targeted in the attack “is a mystery,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said at a press conference.
“I don’t think we have any idea why now or why. Why Brown? Why these students? Why this classroom? This is something that is completely unknown to us and may become clear. I hope it does, but at this point it hasn’t happened yet,” he said.
Authorities also said that they are “not aware of any criminal record in the United States.”
