Even in the sixth day of searching and despite very little in the way of major developments, there was a sudden surge in the search for the suspect in the shooting at Brown University on Dec. 13. According to police, Claudio Neves Valente, aged 48 years, had shot two students in an engineering school before heading off to the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he shot dead a professor.
Even though investigators were scouring footage from CCTV cameras for days, calling repeatedly with appeals for information, which included an offer of a reward worth $50,000, it was only Thursday that there were reports of a dramatic turn of events.
According to the police, a critical tip came through a Reddit user who initially asked the Reddit community to look for the car registered to the suspected shooter. Following a chase across several states, the police were able to track the car and find the shooter dead inside a storage locker in the state of New Hampshire.
“He Blew This Case Right Open”
The investigators have praised the crucial role played by a source, referred to by the alias “John” in a Providence Police affidavit, in tracking the suspect. “He blew this case wide open,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. “When you crack it, you crack it,” he said.
As the images of the new individual who was of interest emerged on the social networks, “John” posted on the Reddit website, “I believe I recognize the guy who has since become known by the name Neves Valente. The image is lower quality, but it does give the individual some uniqueness,” he said.
“I mean this seriously, okay? The Police must investigate a Grey Nissan, possibly a rental, Florida plate,” read a post online. In the comments, other users encouraged him to contact the FBI.
There was not a car linked to the suspect until the suspect told the police about the Nissan, according to an affidavit. This enabled them to obtain more footage of the car by connecting to numerous street cameras in Providence. The graduate came forward after recognizing himself in a photo from an arrest on display at a police
Brett Smiley, the Mayor of Providence, said that the caller was a Brown University alumnus. Smiley claimed that he was the person who had been depicted in a photo that the police had put out.
“He tipped us off on Reddit, initially. Anonymously,” he explained. “It’s a sort of amazing series of events, but basically turned out to be a crucial lead for our investigation. We are thankful for him.” “The stranger, who wishes to protect his anonymity for now, declined to
In his affidavit, he encountered Neves Valente in the toilet area at the engineering building just hours before he struck Brown. He became wary when he noticed his “clothing inappropriate and inadequate for weather”. “John” then followed the suspect out of the building when, allegedly, he observed the suspect make a sudden turn around from the Nissan when he realized he was being watched.
“Game of Cat and Mouse” Is Played Out
As alleged in his statement to the police, there then ensued a “game of cat and mouse,” where the suspect repeatedly ran away upon seeing “John”. And at one point, the two males had a conversation. “Your car is back there, why are you circling the block?” “John” yelled at the suspect.
“I don’t know you from nobody,” he reportedly said in reply to the affidavit. “Why are you harassing me?” “John” said he finally saw the approach of the Nissan by Neves Valente and chose to leave the scene. “Respectfully, I have said all I have to say on the matter to the right people,” he posted on the social networking and discussion site Reddit late on Wednesday.
The researchers were able to follow the car to an Alamo rental agency in downtown Boston. But then, from the rental contract, the name of the suspect appeared. Meanwhile, the vehicle was traced nearly to the home of the murdered MIT professor, 47-year-old Nuno F Gomes Loureiro. It was later located at a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, where the suspect was found dead on Thursday.
The Police Have Yet to Determine Motive
“Police are trying to determine what the motivations may have been in these two shootings, but there are definitely some unknowns.” However, it has also not been confirmed whether the ‘John’ will get the reward money of $50,000 offered by the authorities, though FBI Agent Ted Docks has been asked whether it may happen during a news conference held on Thursday.
“It would only be logical to assume that, absolutely,” he said. “That person would have the right to that.” The turning point for the investigators finally arrived after days of struggling with the identity of the suspect, with several photos being put out by the police. The Reddit thread turned out to be the solution for the police.
The case is also worth noting for illustrating how social media might play an important role in current day law enforcement operations. Law enforcement agencies have at their disposal sophisticated technology. Occasionally, however, what is needed is a tip call by a citizen.
In his decision to make the posts on Reddit before personally reaching out to the police, “John” may have acted unreasonably, but it resulted in his eventually coming forward with his testimony, which helped solve the crime. Information from his observations was highly valuable.
There is a warehouse facility in which the suspect was found dead, and it is in Salem, New Hampshire. This is 80 miles away from Providence. There has been no information given by the police about the death of Neves Valente. The two students who lost their lives at Brown University have not been named. The professor from MIT, who lost his life, was 47 years old and his name was Nuno F Gomes Loureiro.
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