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

[99cats]

I have been thinking this too. His most personal grudge was with Professor Loureiro, so that’s his primary target like you say. Why risk arrest and not getting to your primary target by committing a major crime and drawing attention to yourself beforehand?

So to me it makes more sense that he would try to kill Professor Loureiro first and then go to Brown University, not the other way round like he’s done it.

I wonder if he tried to get to Loureiro before and couldn't for whatever reason, so he decided upon Brown as a secondary target, only circling back when he managed to evade LE.

 

[Sundog]

Moo...I am looking forward to see how authorities treat ..John doe reddit...does he get reward? Does he get kicked outta Brown..( I think legally.. can't be having homeless folks living there) . Will Trump mention him? How this is talked about and how he is treated... will say a lot about society

I think that Brown will have to make a change and that he won't be able to continue living in the basement of the Engineering building. Even though they are a private university, they likely wouldn't be able to set that kind of precedent. But they will have to make some kind of arrangement or get someone else to do something that takes the matter out of their hands. If they do something against John Doe Reddit, then the country will be up in arms and it will be really bad for Brown University leadership (President and Board members, etc.). And, of course, John Doe Reddit will have to agree on whatever option is suggested. As an alumnus of Brown, I assume he is able to use the library and computers that are available to students and alumnae, so that likely won't change for him. It will be interesting to see how this shakes out. But it will also be up to what John wants - other than living in the basement, of course. He likely has other places he lives or has lived recently, as most campus buildings are closed and locked up for a two-week Christmas break, other than research labs and various buildings that are kept open for security and international student needs. The Engineering building may also be off limits right now to everyone due to ongoing work by LE and FBI related to the shooting. JMO

 

[Sundog]

I thought it was very touching in his last Reddit comment, in his last sentence he says compassionately: “Hopefully you all are able to enjoy the holidays with your family and loved ones but if you are not may the following days treat you kindly.” That was before we knew he was homeless, so it reads differently now. I hope he can now have a better Christmas than he thought he would, and his life changes for the better.

Thanks for re-posting this. It really is a beautifully written sentiment.

 

[Telltale]

at my university, something like that would have been surprising, but not totally crazy. the security in the department buildings and lecture halls was relatively lax. not unheard of for grad students or even the odd post-doc to sleep in their offices or labs, especially at crunch time.

though the fact that he was no longer affiliated with the school, and apparently had nowhere else to go do make it weirder.

The security wouldn't have to be crazy lax tbh.

If he become homeless fairly soon after being at the school as a student. Then he could have remained a familiar face to staff/maintenance/ students etc. He could slip in and out with people who vaguely recognised him, or maybe he had a key-card/ knew the door codes. So long as he blended in and knew his way around the building, nobody is going to challenge him once he's inside. They'd just assume he's a free roaming post grad or whatever.

Those sort of buildings often massive and half mothballed. A maze of unused classrooms/ labs/ rooms/ floors. So long as he was careful coming and going and kept his belongings out of sight. I could easily see how he could tuck himself away in some empty office etc at night without ever attracting anyone's notice.

 

[JennieM]

If he's an older guy, he might not be relying on any kind of digital help. No phone, map, google searches. He may be familiar with that area from decades ago, including the older buildings at Brown. Maybe his connection to the school isn't current but an old grievance. Really old. Could have been a freshman dropout/kickout, failed grade(s), mounting resentment, built up over many years. Maybe he's acting out something he's fantasized about, regretting he hadn't done it then. Raging underachiever in his real life. No connection to the victims, the students, the department even. Carrying out a vendetta from another era.

JMO

 

[ilgirl]

I think that Brown will have to make a change and that he won't be able to continue living in the basement of the Engineering building. Even though they are a private university, they likely wouldn't be able to set that kind of precedent. But they will have to make some kind of arrangement or get someone else to do something that takes the matter out of their hands. If they do something against John Doe Reddit, then the country will be up in arms and it will be really bad for Brown University leadership (President and Board members, etc.). And, of course, John Doe Reddit will have to agree on whatever option is suggested. As an alumnus of Brown, I assume he is able to use the library and computers that are available to students and alumnae, so that likely won't change for him. It will be interesting to see how this shakes out. But it will also be up to what John wants - other than living in the basement, of course. He likely has other places he lives or has lived recently, as most campus buildings are closed and locked up for a two-week Christmas break, other than research labs and various buildings that are kept open for security and international student needs. The Engineering building may also be off limits right now to everyone due to ongoing work by LE and FBI related to the shooting. JMO

You make a good point about the engineering building being off-limits now. So John couldn't have been staying there since Saturday anyway. But I'm really hoping they gave him some housing as part of the deal for coming forward. Or if not, that he'll get the reward money (or both of these).

 

[Telltale]

Man needs a gofundme. Even a couple of grand could possibly put him back on his feet. Of course that challenge depends on the circumstances behind his homelessness, but I'm sure it wouldn't hurt.

 

[nao]

Man needs a gofundme. Even a couple of grand could possibly put him back on his feet. Of course that challenge depends on the circumstances behind his homelessness, but I'm sure it wouldn't hurt.

Moo. The reward $ except for the fine print..should be his. If they do not pay out on this... seriously what's the point of putting up reward when people rarely get reward. I really want Trump to say something about this situation.

 

[MassGuy]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2002135545586368996

 

[Lebowski]

holy poop

 

[MassGuy]

Motive sought after suspect in Brown University shooting, MIT professor's killing found dead, officials say

The Brown University shooting suspect was found dead in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire. Authorities believe he is also responsible for killing an MIT professor.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[LAborn]

An interview with a fellow Brown Ph.D. candidate who entered the program at the same time as CV. Pretty interesting view he had of the program and living in the US. I mean, it's hard to compete with Portugal.

“He often complained about moving to the United States and about the university,” Watson, a physics professor at Syracuse University, said. “He would say the classes were too easy—honestly, for him they were. He already knew most of the material and was genuinely impressive. I remember him getting irritated about the quality of food on campus, especially the lack of high-quality fish.”

Suspected Brown shooter was ‘socially awkward,’ college classmate says

“During his time at Brown, I was essentially his only friend,” Watson told The Independent.

www.the-independent.com

 

[Warwick1991]

On Tuesday, I think Neves Valente hadn't yet been identified, especially for both crimes. He must have intended to commit suicide from the start. He did what he planned to do, and then just ended his life. He wasn't surrounded or being pursued. His evasive actions, license plate swapping and mask were apparently just measures to carry out his plans.

 

[getthefax]

My opinion only, but I feel it necessary to consider that “John” probably needed to come forward with at least some information because, if he was kind of living in that building, somebody was bound to say something about his hanging around and living in the place, and if I were him, I’d want to come forward and clear my name of suspicion ASAP.

That said, he really did not need to go on Reddit and put himself on blast—the FBI and police have plenty of ways to submit completely anonymous tips. So, he either wanted a little bit of attention (no shade if he did), or he felt he needed to clear up any involvement in what went down. But he did not need to be posting his circumstances on Reddit, so to me, that’s a really curious choice.

Now, his running down the suspect is a different story altogether—he should be commended for that and get the reward money, IMO.

But I don’t think we should automatically assume John is not homeless by choice. There are a lot of reasons someone might choose to be living rent-free in a university building, and we don’t know that he’s jobless, etc (he has an iPad and a phone).

Some folks do make a bit of a game out of hacking ways to buck the system a bit… I know quite a few people who were semi-professional couch-surfers, especially when they were in graduate school, etc. He just might be one of those folks. Unfortunately, this truth of his living in the building is likely going to make for a bit of a mark on the university’s reputation, as others have pointed out, because it doesn’t make the university security look so good :/

I am very glad his contributions helped resolve the case quickly and do hope he gets the reward money.

 

[apeXperience]

For whoever could, especially the people local to Providence and local to Rhode Island at large

• Given that the State is rather narrow than large, Internet Access avails to all including the homeless. Since Rhode Island people are liberal with public funds, it would be fair to mobilize the awaken local activists to help the local hero, “John Redditor, the homeless Person in Proximity”
• One idea would be creating a legitimate and monitored “go fund me” page for John
• A second idea would be to petition the Providence Chief of Police and/or the Brown University Chief of Police to create some sort of “look out security job” for John
• A third idea would be to motivate the local restaurant owners to share the leftover foods with John, and invite John in their end-of-year party with their employees such that the coming days could be less harsh for John
• Rhode Island registered democratic voters could motivate the wealthy elected officials to be more generous with the local unfortunate such as John
• According to his wikipedia page, the affluent mayor of Providence is democratic politician Mr. Brett Peter Smiley who’s husband is Mr. Jim DeRentis. According to “DAN JAEHNIG, November 13, 2024, NBC 10 NEWS” Jim DeRentis is an architect and real estate developer who currently lives in his 15th home in the historic brownstone on the East Side of Providence, with his husband Providence Mayor. Would they spare a couple of thousands $$ Christmas gift, or Hanukkah gift, or End-of-year holidays gift for John?
• If some registered voters would kindly call their attention to others’ needs, it is hoped that Mr. Jim DeRentis and Mr. Brett Peter Smiley would have any extra room to house “John Redditor the homeless Person in Proximity” at least during the winter months.

For all of us, keep in touch with your loved ones, look out like John for each others, and may we keep warm and fed during these end-of-year holidays

 

[wibbleflea]

But he did not need to be posting his circumstances on Reddit, so to me, that’s a really curious choice.

He didn’t mention his homelessness or that he was living at Brown. He even denied being the person photographed. He just posted the info about the car and the Florida plates, saying the police should look at it. He was encouraged by others to speak to police, which he did. It was someone else at Brown who released information about John’s circumstances. And it was police who revealed that John was, in fact, the second of the people whose pictures they released.

Edited to add that he didn’t mention chasing or questioning the suspect. He really underplayed his role.

 

[indicolite22]

On Tuesday, I think Neves Valente hadn't yet been identified, especially for both crimes. He must have intended to commit suicide from the start. He did what he planned to do, and then just ended his life. He wasn't surrounded or being pursued. His evasive actions, license plate swapping and mask were apparently just measures to carry out his plans.

Killing people didn't solve his problem of being a loser.

 

[curiouser_]

I thought it was very touching in his last Reddit comment, in his last sentence he says compassionately: “Hopefully you all are able to enjoy the holidays with your family and loved ones but if you are not may the following days treat you kindly.” That was before we knew he was homeless, so it reads differently now. I hope he can now have a better Christmas than he thought he would, and his life changes for the better.

I kind of want to invite him over for the holidays. I’m in RI.

 

[indicolite22]

An interview with a fellow Brown Ph.D. candidate who entered the program at the same time as CV. Pretty interesting view he had of the program and living in the US. I mean, it's hard to compete with Portugal.

“He often complained about moving to the United States and about the university,” Watson, a physics professor at Syracuse University, said. “He would say the classes were too easy—honestly, for him they were. He already knew most of the material and was genuinely impressive. I remember him getting irritated about the quality of food on campus, especially the lack of high-quality fish.”

Suspected Brown shooter was ‘socially awkward,’ college classmate says

“During his time at Brown, I was essentially his only friend,” Watson told The Independent.

www.the-independent.com

It appears that CV didn't think he wasn't good enough for his studies. He thought the school wasn't good enough for him. Where did he go next if not back to Portugal? Why didn't he enroll elsewhere if he was that smart?

 

[getthefax]

He didn’t mention his homelessness or that he was living at Brown. He even denied being the person photographed. He just posted the info about the car and the Florida plates, saying the police should look at it. He was encouraged by others to speak to police, which he did. It was someone else at Brown who released information about John’s circumstances. And it was police who revealed that John was, in fact, the second of the people whose pictures they released.

Edited to add that he didn’t mention chasing or questioning the suspect. He really underplayed his role.

Points well taken. I am only pointing out that we know absolutely nothing about this circumstances/joblessness/homelessness etc., and should not make assumptions there. We know no more than what John himself wanted us to know, if we are to respect his wishes.

I am absolutely sure the police are well aware that this is not a sort of fame that does anyone any good.

That said, I stand by my statement about it being curious to both offer information on Reddit about the crime AND wanting to remain anonymous. I think he knew at some point his having been photographed on and around campus more than other folks (if he was living around the building) and not being a currently enrolled student, that would have raised suspicion that would have to have been ironed out. The police were, in fact, looking for a POI who was seen around the shooter.

I am GLAD he came forward, and I hope he gets the reward $$$. But I am not assuming the guy is a homeless guy with no job/prospects, because we honestly just don't have much of that information.