Brown University Armed Attack

The armed attack at Brown University was an armed incident that occurred on December 13, 2025, on the campus of Brown University in the city of Providence, Rhode Island, United States. The incident led to heightened security measures on campus, the implementation of shelter-in-place and quarantine-like protocols, and a large-scale search operation.

Location

The attack took place around the Barus & Holley building on the Brown University campus, which houses the engineering and physics departments.

Authorities and university sources reported that the attack occurred during a time period when final examinations were being administered.

Brown University Armed Attack (Anadolu Ajansı)

Timeline and Initial Reports

The university issued an “active armed attacker” alert, instructing students to hide, lock their doors, and silence their phones. These alerts and directives remained in effect until a second announcement was made.

The incident began at approximately 16:05 local time on Saturday, December 13, 2025. The university’s first emergency update was released at approximately 16:22.

Deaths and Injuries

Two students were reported killed in the incident. Their identities were not disclosed to the public in the initial hours following the attack. Nine people were injured in the attack.

It was reported that some of the injured were in critical or critical but stable condition at hospitals, while others sustained less severe injuries.

Brown University Armed Attack (Anadolu Ajansı)

Suspect and Investigation Progress

The suspect was described by law enforcement as a male dressed entirely in dark or black clothing. It was reported that the suspect was likely in his thirties, his face was obscured, and several witnesses indicated he was wearing a mask.

In the early hours of the incident, media reports suggested the suspect had been taken into custody. In this context, it was reported that U.S. President Donald Trump used social media to state, “The FBI is on the scene and the suspect is in custody.”

However, the university later issued a clarification stating that no suspect was in custody and that the individual remained at large and was being sought.

Law enforcement released security camera footage of the suspect, showing him leaving the building and moving along Hope Street before turning toward Waterman Street. It was also reported that empty cartridge casings were collected at the scene and that the weapon had not been found during the initial stages of the incident.

Response, Security Measures, and Operational Procedures

Following the attack, a shelter-in-place order was issued across campus, requiring students to remain in place and limit movement to enclosed areas. A security perimeter was established in specific zones of the campus, and plans were made to evacuate individuals in administrative (non-residential) buildings under police escort to safe locations.

Search operations involved numerous local, state, and federal law enforcement personnel, with some sources reporting over 400 officers deployed. Federal agencies including the FBI and ATF were confirmed to have personnel on site.

Questions arose regarding building access policies, particularly given reports that exterior doors remained unlocked during the exam period. It was stated that campus security and building access protocols would be reviewed following the incident.

Institutional Statements and Public Authority Declarations

Following the incident, Brown University administration announced that the campus would remain locked down, that security was the top priority, and that police operations were ongoing. It was also announced that some scheduled examinations would be postponed or rescheduled.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley provided public updates regarding the number of deaths and injuries, confirmed that the investigation was ongoing, and indicated that further statements would be issued as developments emerged. Providence police authorities stated that resources were fully mobilized to identify and apprehend the suspect and that the shelter-in-place order would remain in effect. U.S. President Donald Trump was briefed by officials on the latest developments regarding the incident.

Progress of the Investigation

Mistaken Detention of a Suspect

In the early stages of the investigation, an individual was taken into custody based on available tips. However, reviews conducted by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office and the Providence Police concluded that the existing evidence did not link this person to the attack. As evidence pointed toward another individual, authorities announced that the suspect would be released. Officials stated that evidence verification procedures were ongoing and that information from the early phase of the investigation was provisional in nature.

Continuation of Search Operations

Following the mistaken detention, law enforcement expanded search efforts to identify the actual perpetrator. Coordination was established between local state and federal agencies; surveillance footage rental records and eyewitness statements were reevaluated. It was also noted that tips received from the public were incorporated into the investigation.

Location Where the Suspect’s Body Was FoundAnadolu Ajansı)

Identification and Death of the Suspect

Identity of the Suspect

Authorities confirmed that the suspect in the attack was Claudio Neves Valente, a citizen of Portugal. It was noted that Valente had pursued graduate studies in physics at Brown University between 2000 and 2001 but had no active affiliation with the university at the time of the incident.

Discovery of the Suspect’s Body

As part of the investigation, it was announced that Valente’s body was found in a storage unit he had rented in Salem, New Hampshire. Initial findings indicated that he had taken his own life. Two firearms and evidence linked to the attack were discovered at the scene.

Following confirmation of the suspect’s death, authorities declared that there was no ongoing threat to the public. This statement was issued jointly by federal prosecutors and local law enforcement agencies.

MIT Professor Murder Connection

Link to the Second Incident

Authorities announced that Valente was also the suspect in the armed attack that resulted in the death of Nuno Loureiro, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), two days after the Brown University attack. Investigators stated that a connection between the two incidents had been established through forensic and technical analysis.

Information Regarding Academic Background

Investigation findings revealed that Valente and Loureiro had studied in the same academic program in Portugal in the late 1990s. Authorities have not publicly disclosed a motive for either attack and confirmed that the motivation remains under review as part of the ongoing investigation.

Implications for Immigration and Visa Policies

Suspension of the Diversity Visa (DV-1) Program

During the course of the investigation, it became public that Valente had entered the United States in 2017 under the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV-1) program and had obtained permanent residency. Subsequently, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced, pursuant to President Donald Trump’s directive, that the DV-1 program would be temporarily suspended.

Official Statements

In a statement by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the suspension of the program was justified by the connection to the incident. Officials indicated that details regarding the duration and legal framework of the suspension would be clarified in subsequent stages.