Newly released transcripts from confessional-style videos reveal that a gunman who killed two students at Brown University and later murdered a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology had been planning the violence for months and showed no remorse for his actions.
Months of Preparation Revealed in Video Transcripts
Investigators say Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, 48, recorded several videos in which he admitted spending six academic semesters planning the attack that unfolded in Providence, Rhode Island, on 13 December. Speaking in his native Portuguese, the Portuguese immigrant attempted to justify his actions but never explained a clear motive for targeting students or faculty.
The recordings were later translated into English and released by federal prosecutors.
Deadly Classroom Attack at Brown University
The attack at Brown University resulted in the deaths of Ella Cook, 19, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, while nine others were injured. The shooting shocked the nation and sparked criticism over the delay in identifying the suspect, allowing him to flee across state lines.
During the recordings, the gunman described being confronted by a witness on campus and expressed surprise that authorities took so long to locate him.
MIT Professor Killed Days Later
Two days after the Brown University shooting, the suspect traveled to Massachusetts and fatally shot MIT professor Nuno Loureiro at his home near Boston. Investigators later confirmed that the attacker and the professor had attended the same university in Portugal and were believed to have known each other.
After killing the professor, the gunman took his own life, ending a multistate manhunt.
Discovery After Three-State Manhunt
Authorities located the suspect’s body on 18 December inside a New Hampshire storage unit, along with the recorded videos. The search had spanned three US states, drawing widespread attention and concern.
According to the United States Department of Justice, the gunman showed no regret in the recordings. Prosecutors stated that he even blamed unarmed students for their own deaths and complained about an eye injury caused by a spent bullet casing during the MIT shooting.
No Mental Illness Claim, No Stated Motive
In the transcripts, the former Brown University student denied suffering from any mental illness and insisted the attack was not driven by hatred toward the United States.
“I have no hatred towards America,” he said, though he described moving to the US as a “mistake.”
Despite extensive evidence, prosecutors confirmed that no specific motive was identified for targeting either Brown University students or the MIT professor.
Investigation Continues, No Public Threat
Federal prosecutors stated that the investigation remains ongoing to fully document events and evidence. However, they emphasized that there is no continuing threat to the public.
