RI - Mass Shooting at Brown University - Providence 13 Dec 2025

[Zinn]

2 min ago

Questions remain even as suspect identified, Rhode Island attorney general says​

From CNN's Tori B. Powell

While the suspect in the Brown University mass shooting was found dead tonight, questions surrounding the incident and motive still remain.

The reason why Brown University in particular was targeted “is a mystery,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said at a news conference.

“I don’t think we have any idea why now or why? Why Brown? Why these students? Why this classroom? That is really unknown to us and it may become clear,” he said. “I hope that it does, but it hasn’t as of right now.”

https://edition.cnn.com/us/live-news/brown-university-shooting-suspect-12-18-25?t=1766114798593

He studied physics in that building at Brown and withdrew from the program for some reason. He began shooting in the hallway, according to the TA who said he heard shooting and people screaming *before* the shooter entered the classroom where he was wrapping up his study session. IMO, he might not have had any idea an econ study session was happening in the engineering and physics building.

 

[adot0902]

You’re right. Having caught up on the R side of it, that’s the general conclusion others have come to – he denied being the person photographed because he wanted to preserve his anonymity. His Reddit post substantially underplayed his role, as it turns out.

Reddit people are an odd bunch, that I am a part of, but yeah now that it has come out kind of not surprised. But also feel like we should let John fade back to obscurity after giving him 50k

 

[zleuther]

From Mass presser:
Suspect rented a car in Boston; drove to Brown U; did the shooting; returned to Mass.
On Dec 15 seen on video entering prof's apartment and one hour later seen, in same clothes, entering storage unit in NH.

Info on the car came from
websleuths
reddit

https://www.reddit.com/r/providence/comments/1pnkwoq/fbi_poster_released/nu9c70a/

Screenshot 2025 12 18 222058 hosted at ImgBB

Image Screenshot 2025 12 18 222058 hosted on ImgBB

ibb.co

https://www.reddit.com/r/providence/comments/1pnkwoq/fbi_poster_released

 

[Snoopster]

Q: anything interesting in the car
A: still waiting for info

Q: google pinging or apps?
A: phone doesn't allow real time pinging. used European sim cards that don't provide info real time

Have video of him renting the car.

Maine plate was taken out of registration status over a decade ago.

He rented a unit but was found in another empty unit, but this is recent info so not certain.

 

[O.Incandenza]

Continued Affidavit notes:

• License plate cameras show that his car was there repeatedly in the weeks leading up to the shooting. It was first recorded on Dec. 1st, the same day he rented it in Boston, and was seen a total of 14 times. A faculty member remembers noticing the car on Dec. 11.
• There's also a mention of video of him renting a different car on November 17. So it's possible he was using that car to case out the neighborhood prior to Dec. 1.

 

[Snoopster]

From Mass presser:

Storage locker was locked from the outside so they knew he couldn't be inside. That's when they found him next door.

 

[Twick]

It’s sadly amusing to see all the posters on social media like Twitter who “knew” the shooter was trans or Palestinian trying to backtrack. There needs to be some sort of restriction out on randomly naming people as “confirmed killers” while an investigation is underway. Someone is going to die due to the reckless desire for clicks.

 

[wibbleflea]

Reddit people are an odd bunch, that I am a part of, but yeah now that it has come out kind of not surprised. But also feel like we should let John fade back to obscurity after giving him 50k

Agreed. Reddit has been hugely helpful to me. Some amazing people there.

 

[JennieM]

It’s sadly amusing to see all the posters on social media like Twitter who “knew” the shooter was trans or Palestinian trying to backtrack. There needs to be some sort of restriction out on randomly naming people as “confirmed killers” while an investigation is underway. Someone is going to die due to the reckless desire for clicks.

Not just posters. In the presser the media was criticized for clickbaiting.

 

[BigCityAccountant1]

Same. And the Redditor specifically denied being the second person whose photographs were released. A bit of a mystery.

Do you blame him? He was the only one who could identify the sick b. He knew what the reddit poster looked like. Maybe he feared for his life after finding out what the sick b. did and he would come after him.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

So the belly was real then?

 

[Zinn]

Same. And the Redditor specifically denied being the second person whose photographs were released. A bit of a mystery.

Seems reasonable to me that he might have wanted to maintain his anonymity.

 

[MassGuy]

Brown better take care of this guy!

https://twitter.com/x/status/2001868416869875954

 

[TravelingBug]

Why did they say they hope he gets some of the reward money then? If they are the same person, wouldn’t they get the full reward?

Was there a reward in the MIT shooting also? If so, he should get that one also.

On reddit he had said he had already reported it before posting. I wonder if being homeless it was discounted until the reddit thread took off and others also reported it and then he went in person last night to tell them?

 

[Ghostwheel]

Just a thought. If this person is truly homeless, perhaps they want to remain that way. Obviously able to be homeless (if this is accurate) and still post on Reddit, so knows his way around. I hope he gets to remain as anonymous as he wants to be. JMO.

 

[JDG]

Sadly, the reward is for the arrest and conviction of the perp.

Doubt it will be available without a conviction.

It’s very difficult to get reward money, always.

 

[JDG]

Just a thought. If this person is truly homeless, perhaps they want to remain that way. Obviously able to be homeless (if this is accurate) and still post on Reddit, so knows his way around. I hope he gets to remain as anonymous as he wants to be. JMO.

Libraries have free computers/wifi.

 

[maamager]

Just a thought. If this person is truly homeless, perhaps they want to remain that way. Obviously able to be homeless (if this is accurate) and still post on Reddit, so knows his way around. I hope he gets to remain as anonymous as he wants to be. JMO.

i completely agree with anonymity aspect; however i can’t concede with the notion that they might be choosing to live without housing. housing insecurity is a very real horrifying thing for a ton of americans — but jmo

 

[whitelilac]

I'm cross eyed.
Watched both PCs and have caught up here with the comments.

If it weren't for John, this might not have been solved, at least not for some time.
The guy was prepared. Untrackable phone, with possibly European Sim cards, the different license plates including one that was no longer on the registry, hotel rooms here and there, etc.......but also various mistakes, should have abandoned the Brown plan as John was far too nosy.
Yes, some kind of 25 year grudge, probably a failure in his work and life unlike his brilliant successful co-student from Portugal. Was he married? If so maybe that too didn't work out.

I need to eat, dinner time has been non existent the last few days....just quick cold stuff from the fridge, and crackers.

My thoughts are with the victims, the families, and the students still in the hospital.

 

[JennieM]

A still image of Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, 48, the suspected Brown University shooter at an Alamo Car Rental facility in Boston on Nov. 17, 2025. Show less
RHODE ISLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL

Suspect found. What to know about Brown University, MIT shooter

Authorities announced they tracked down the man responsible for the deadly Brown University shooting that rocked the Ivy League institution.

eu.usatoday.com