Authorities have confirmed the death of 48-year-old Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, the suspect in the recent shooting at Brown University, which resulted in two deaths and nine injuries. Valente’s body was discovered in a storage unit in New Hampshire. In addition to the Brown shooting, Valente is also suspected of killing MIT physics professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro at his home on Monday. The motive behind these shootings remains unclear.
On December 16, 2025, crime scene tape was visible outside the Barus and Holley building on the Brown University campus in Providence, Rhode Island. Valente had been a graduate student at Brown in 2000, but dropped out after a year. He returned to the U.S. in 2017 and allegedly had ties to the MIT professor, who he is believed to have killed. Police later connected Valente to the shooting after a witness saw him in a Brown University bathroom, followed him outside, and chased him to his vehicle. The witness’s post on Reddit helped law enforcement track down the suspect.
A major question now is how local authorities and politicians will respond to these shootings. There are also discussions about the university’s actions and the law enforcement response. In an unexpected development, President Trump suspended the green card lottery program that permitted Valente’s entry into the country.
At the same time, the Justice Department faces a looming deadline to release files related to the infamous case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Last month, President Trump signed a law demanding the Attorney General disclose information about individuals connected to Epstein’s criminal activities. Reports suggest that while there may be significant revelations, the Trump administration has often downplayed information related to Epstein’s case throughout the year.
NPR’s Stephen Fowler mentions that the release of the files is unlikely to mark the end of the story, given the way the Trump administration has handled the matter. Some expect that the names of at least 20 men implicated in sex crimes will be revealed. However, there’s speculation that certain information could be redacted, and it may take a few days for the public to know if anything was withheld.
In other news, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., has officially changed its name to the “Trump Kennedy Center.” This decision was made by the board of the renowned cultural institution, who voted unanimously to add Trump’s name. The change is already reflected on the center’s website. Critics argue that dissenting voices were silenced during the vote, and some suggest that the name change may need congressional approval.
Trump’s influence over the Kennedy Center has been growing since he became chair of the board earlier this year, replacing David Rubenstein. He also dismissed former president Deborah Rutter and replaced Biden-appointed board members with his own allies. According to NPR’s Andrew Limbong, Trump’s involvement with the center during his first term was minimal, but his current administration has made it clear he intends to assert more control over the institution.
