Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
Federal authorities continue to investigate the mass shooting at Brown University and the killing of an MIT professor in Brookline, Massachusetts. The Department of Justice reported that on December 18, 2025, investigators executed a federal search warrant at a storage facility used by Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, who has been identified as the individual responsible for both incidents.
During the search, FBI agents recovered an electronic device containing several short videos made by Neves Valente after the shootings. The Department of Justice released transcripts of these videos, translated from Portuguese to English. According to officials, "Neves Valente admitted that he had been planning the Brown University shooting for a long time. Although Neves Valente stated that Brown University was his intended target, based on initial review of the evidence collected, he did not provide a motive for targeting students at Brown University or the professor at MIT."
The statement also noted: "Neves Valente showed no remorse during the recordings; on the contrary, he exposed his true nature when he blamed innocent, unarmed children for their deaths at his hand and grumbled about a self-inflicted injury he suffered when he shot the MIT professor at close range. Our investigation into the motives behind Neves Valente’s heinous acts will continue."
Authorities indicated that based on current evidence there are no ongoing public safety threats related to these shootings. Updates will be provided as more information is available and after victims have been notified.
