In a tragic incident at Brown University, Claudio Neves-Valente, a 48-year-old former student, opened fire, resulting in the deaths of two students and critically injuring nine others. The aftermath of this shooting continues to garner attention, especially regarding the shooter’s behavior leading up to the attack.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha held a press conference on Thursday, addressing reporters’ questions about the shooter’s actions. He revealed that witnesses reported Neves-Valente made “barking noises” before he began his assault. This detail adds a mysterious layer to an already horrifying event. Neronha noted, “In terms of what was said, I don’t know anymore today than what I told you yesterday.” He acknowledged conflicting accounts from various witnesses, stating, “Some say he said nothing. There are some that say he made a barking noise. I don’t know why.” His admission highlights the confusion and chaos often present during such traumatic events.
Neves-Valente, a Portuguese national, entered the United States through an immigration lottery in 2017. He was not a U.S. citizen but held a green card. Six days after the shooting, authorities found him dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire. The circumstances leading to his violent actions remain unclear, but the nature of his expression during the attack has raised questions. There were unconfirmed reports that he shouted “Allah Akbar” as he opened fire; however, these claims have not been substantiated.
Such incidents often spur discussions about mental health, immigration, and gun control. In this case, the specifics seem to revolve around the shooter’s erratic behavior. The mention of barking noises could imply a disturbed mental state, though AG Neronha emphasized that the only concrete detail known is the absence of coherent spoken words. “There is no other spoken word beyond that that we are aware of,” he confirmed.
This unsettling incident at Brown University serves as a devastating reminder of the realities of violence in educational institutions. The conflicting narratives surrounding Neves-Valente’s actions may never be completely resolved, adding to the community’s grief and confusion. As the investigation continues, the focus will undoubtedly shift to understanding the motivations behind such acts of violence and what can be done to prevent them in the future.
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