A former acquaintance of Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, the man accused in the tragic Brown University shooting, has shared insights about him. During their time at Brown in the early 2000s, Valente was described as “socially awkward” and prone to bouts of frustration.
On December 13, 2025, Valente allegedly opened fire in the Barus & Holley building, resulting in the deaths of students Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, while injuring nine others. Just two days later, he shot and killed Nuno Loureiro, a professor at MIT, in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Scott Watson, a physics professor at Syracuse University, met Valente at Brown. He recalls being Valente’s only friend during their studies. Watson described him as someone who often felt out of place. “He would sit alone at orientation. I approached him, and we eventually got along,” he shared.
Watson noted Valente expressed dissatisfaction with American life, particularly at Brown. He often complained about the difficulty of the classes, explaining, “For him, they were too easy. He knew most of the material.” Valente was also particular about food, frequently lamenting the lack of quality options on campus.
Their last conversation in 2003 left Watson with a sense of unease. Valente mentioned he was heading back to Portugal, a detail that now seems misleading.
In a conversation with CNN, Watson reflected on the situation, saying, “Looking back, maybe the signs were always there.” He was shocked to learn of Valente’s actions, but with hindsight, some of Valente’s behaviors now seem troubling.
This tragic event raises questions about mental health awareness, especially in academic settings. According to a recent survey from the American College Health Association, 39% of students reported feeling so depressed it was difficult to function. This highlights the importance of open conversations about well-being in schools.
The conversation surrounding mental health is evolving. Experts urge universities to provide better support systems for students feeling isolated or overwhelmed. The hope is that such tragedies can be prevented by fostering a more inclusive environment.
For more on the impacts of mental health in education, you can check out this report by the National Institute of Mental Health.
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Provincetown News, Brown University
