Following a tragic shooting at Brown University, a key tip from a Reddit user helped police identify the suspect. The incident, which occurred on a Saturday inside a classroom building, claimed the lives of two students, Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook, and left nine others injured.
The mystery deepened as police initially struggled to find the shooter. Community members felt frustration growing without clear leads. However, a post on Reddit changed everything. The witness, known in reports as “John,” mentioned seeing a man near a grey Nissan sedan with Florida plates parked by the Rhode Island Historical Society, just a short walk from where the shooting happened.
“I’m being dead serious. The police need to look into a grey Nissan with Florida plates, possibly a rental,” the witness urged. Police later confirmed that this description matched footage from their cameras.
The information provided by the Reddit user aligned with earlier videos showing the suspect, later identified as 48-year-old Claudio Manuel Neves Valente. Rhode Island’s attorney general, Peter Neronha, noted how crucial this lead was, as it ultimately helped crack the case open.
John had first spotted the masked man around 1:45 PM in a university restroom. As the situation unfolded, John followed the suspect, creating a “game of cat and mouse” as he darted around the area, even approaching the parked Nissan. The situation escalated when the suspect accused John of harassment.
Just hours later, the shooting took place. The police later linked the grey Nissan to a car rental company, revealing evidence connecting Neves Valente to the scene. Neves Valente’s clothing matched what had been seen in security footage on the day of the shooting.
The plot thickened as authorities explored a possible connection between Neves Valente and the murder of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro, who was found dead just days later. Eyewitness accounts revealed that both men had been enrolled in the same academic program in Lisbon during the late 1990s, raising questions about potential motives.
After fleeing Rhode Island, Neves Valente was tracked down in New Hampshire. When investigators found him, his body was discovered along with firearms linking him to both crimes. “John’s tip led us to the shooter’s identity and ultimately to the evidence,” Neronha stated.
While police made significant progress, the motive remains unclear. “Why now? Why Brown? Why those students?” Neronha asked, highlighting the continuing investigation into these tragic events.
The community continues to process the impact of the shooting. It has sparked discussions on campus safety and violence in educational settings. Many are left wondering how similar tragedies can be prevented in the future, echoing sentiments shared widely on social media platforms.
As this story develops, one thing is clear: when communities come together to share information, it can lead to critical breakthroughs in solving serious crimes.
For more information on this story, you can check updates from [Sky News](https://news.sky.com) and the FBI’s official website.
