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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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A homeless man reportedly played a key role in helping police identify the vehicle of the suspect in the Brown University campus shooting.
After spotting the car near campus, he shared the details in a Reddit thread that quickly drew investigators’ attention, leading to a major breakthrough in the hunt for the gunman.
Why It Matters
The aftermath of the Brown University shooting, which claimed the lives of two students and left nine others injured, exposed both the vulnerability of campus environments and the intricate challenges law enforcement faces in tracking suspects.
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The incident has also reignited debates over gun violence, campus security, and immigration policy following revelations about the suspect's visa history.
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What To Know
Neves Valente, 48, a Portuguese national, is accused of shooting nearly a dozen students at Brown University, killing 19-year-old Ella Cook and 18-year-old Mukhammad Aziz Umurzoko. He is also suspected in the fatal shooting of Nuno F. G. Loureiro, a nuclear fusion scientist and MIT professor, at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts. Police said Valente died by suicide and was later found in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire.
An affidavit obtained by Fox News says that authorities were alerted on Tuesday to a Reddit post describing the suspect’s vehicle.
"I’m being dead serious," the Reddit post read. "The police need to look into a grey Nissan with Florida plates, possibly a rental."
Police later identified the Reddit user as a homeless man, who they described as articulate and reliable, according to Fox News. He reportedly told authorities that he sleeps in the basement of the Barus and Holley building on campus and had observed the suspect there earlier in the day. He said they had a brief encounter as he followed the suspect outside.
The affidavit states that the man described a "cat and mouse game," where the two would pass each other and slow down, and at one point stood just feet apart when the man asked about the car. He then posted on Reddit after identifying the individual as a person of interest.
Using the tip, investigators reviewed surveillance footage and located a vehicle matching the description, per the affidavit obtained by Fox News. License plate reader cameras helped identify the car, though authorities noted that the suspect had placed a Maine plate over the rental’s Florida plates, and multiple similar vehicles on camera made the process more complex.
Police traced the car to a rental company in Massachusetts, obtained surveillance footage, and identified the suspect through the rental agreement, per Fox News. They were later led to an abandoned car in Salem, New Hampshire, where Neves Valente had rented a storage unit in his name. He was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot, with two firearms nearby, the outlet reported.
The Trump administration has suspended the green card lottery following last week’s mass shooting at Brown University, in which two people were killed. The suspect entered the country through the diversity visa program in 2017 and received a green card, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
What People Are Saying
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on X: "The Brown University shooter, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente entered the United States through the diversity lottery immigrant visa program (DV1) in 2017 and was granted a green card. This heinous individual should never have been allowed in our country.
Martin Bertao, the president of College Republicans of America, said in a statement posted on X: "We are devastated to learn of the loss of our Brown College Republicans Vice President, Ella Cook. Ella was known for her bold, brave, and kind heart as she served her chapter and her fellow classmates. Our prayers are with her family, our Brown CR’s, and the entirety of the campus as they heal from this tragedy."
The Providence Police Department said on Facebook: "Our hearts go out to the victims of this awful tragedy. Thank you to our law enforcement partners as well as all of our neighbors who were instrumental throughout the investigation."
What Happens Next
Authorities continue to investigate as they work to determine a motive for the shootings.
Update, 12/19/2025, 7:57 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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