A shocking mass shooting at Brown University resulted in the death of two students, and authorities are investigating a possible connection to the murder of a professor from MIT.
The incident at Brown occurred when a gunman opened fire at an engineering building around 4 pm on December 13. Students were gathered there for a final exam review in economics.
The tragic event left two students dead and nine others injured. The shooter has not yet been apprehended.
In a related development, just two days later, a murder took place at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Nuno F Gomes Loureiro, a 47-year-old nuclear science and engineering professor from Portugal, was shot multiple times on Monday and succumbed to his injuries the following morning.
Initially, there were no leads regarding motives or suspects in Loureiro’s death, but authorities are now exploring the possibility of a link between the two crimes.
Loureiro was killed inside his Brookline home, located near Boston, around 8:30 pm on Monday — about 50 miles away from Brown University.
Investigators noted that the suspect in the Brown shooting had rented a vehicle later discovered near Loureiro’s residence.
Interestingly, this vehicle was the same make and model as one connected to the MIT professor’s murder.
Initially, FBI agent Ted Docks stated that there appeared to be no connection between the two killings. However, new findings have emerged that could link the incidents.
According to NBC10, a potential connection was made after a rental car believed to be tied to both shootings was traced, marking a significant development in the investigation.
No arrests have been made thus far, and the suspect remains unidentified. A manhunt is ongoing, focusing on an area 85 miles north of Brown University in Salem, New Hampshire.
Law enforcement initially detained a man in his 30s at a Providence hotel, but he was released and cleared of involvement based on additional evidence, as reported by Rhode Island’s Attorney General Peter Neronha via CNN.
The search for the suspect continues, with police releasing CCTV footage of the individual, who is seen wearing dark clothing, and asking the public for assistance in identifying them.
Both the Providence police and the FBI have established tip lines for the public to provide any useful information as the investigation progresses.