Justice Department details disturbing recordings left by Claudio Neves Valente after deadly campus attacks
Federal prosecutors on Tuesday released disturbing details from a series of video confessions recorded by Claudio Neves Valente, the man responsible for fatal shootings at Brown University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, before taking his own life.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national and former graduate student, recorded four rambling videos in Portuguese in which he admitted the attacks were planned over an extended period and stated explicitly that he felt no regret for the killings.
Videos Recorded After the Attacks
Federal officials say the recordings were found inside a New Hampshire storage unit where Valente later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on December 18, following a nearly week-long multi-state manhunt. Transcripts translated into English reveal a man describing the violence as a long-anticipated act rather than an impulsive one.
In the videos, Valente said he had considered carrying out the attacks multiple times over several semesters but had previously backed away. He described the shootings as a moment of “opportunity” and claimed his primary objective was to die “on his own terms,” rather than be arrested or imprisoned.
Prosecutors emphasized that the videos were not messages of remorse or explanation, but instead contained repeated assertions that he did not regret his actions.
Deadly Timeline Across Two States
Authorities confirmed that on December 13, Valente opened fire inside a lecture hall at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Police say more than 40 rounds were fired, killing two students and injuring nine others.
The victims were later identified as Ella Cook, 19, a sophomore from Alabama, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, a freshman originally from Uzbekistan.
Two days later, Valente traveled to Massachusetts, where investigators say he fatally shot Nuno Loureiro, 47, a professor at MIT, inside his Brookline townhouse. Authorities said Valente and Loureiro had studied together years earlier in Portugal.
Claims of Sanity and Lack of Motive
In the recordings, Valente rejected the idea that mental illness played a role, insisting he was “sane” during the attacks. He also claimed he had no interest in notoriety or public sympathy and expressed disdain for how he believed others would judge his actions.
Despite outlining his planning process, Valente did not clearly articulate a motive in the videos. Prosecutors said he referenced sending emails to others explaining his reasoning, but details about those messages — including recipients and content — have not yet been disclosed.
Investigation Ongoing
Federal and state authorities stressed that the release of the transcripts is part of an ongoing investigation into the shootings, including how Valente was able to access campuses and whether warning signs were missed. Law enforcement previously confirmed that Valente had been observed on Brown’s campus prior to the attack, though no criminal charges resulted at the time.
Officials reiterated that the publication of the materials is intended to inform the public and support transparency, not to amplify the shooter’s message.
As investigations continue, both Brown University and MIT have stated they are cooperating fully with authorities while expanding counseling services and safety reviews for students, faculty, and staff in the aftermath of the violence.
