Brown University shooting suspect found dead from self inflicted gun wound hours after cops issued arrest warrant

The recently identified suspect in the Brown University shooting, which left two students dead and nine others injured, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot ​wound on Thursday.

Claudio Neves Valente, 48, a former Brown student and Portuguese national, was found dead Thursday night from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, said Col. Oscar Perez, the Providence police chief.

This came just hours after the police identified him and issued a warrant for his arrest following a massive six-day manhunt.

The New York Post last reported that the search for the suspect was centred in Salem, New Hampshire, where a suspicious vehicle was found.

Police are probing a possible link between the Brown University shooting on 13 December and the killing of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor Nuno Lourerio two days later, sources told NYP.

Both the elite colleges are located within a 50-mile radius.

A few hours ago, Boston 25 News reported that law enforcement officers swarmed a parked car in Salem, which seemed to be of a similar make and model to one allegedly spotted near the scene of the Brookline murder of the 47-year-old physicist and fusion scientist.

There is no formal confirmation from the authorities on whether there is a connection between the two shootings.

The car, with a license plate believed to be connected to the suspect, was reportedly found abandoned near a storage facility in Salem, according to multiple media reports.

The perpetrator, whose name had not been disclosed, managed to elude authorities for nearly a week after the shooting. Despite releasing multiple grainy images of the suspect, cops have struggled to obtain a clear image of the masked shooter's face.

The manhunt left students and residents of Providence, Rhode Island, “restless ​and eager” for an arrest, said Mayor Brett Smiley.

‘He could be anywhere’ – Police seek public's help

Reuters, quoting investigators, had said the suspect ⁠in the Brown University shooting escaped on foot into a nearby street in Salem. This prompted a search, relying heavily on residential security footage.

Despite 1,200 security cameras across the university, none were installed in the building where the shooting took place. The lack of surveillance in the classroom building and the surrounding area forced the investigators to rely on residential footage.

A few days ago, based on survivors' accounts, police released images and video of a masked ‌man believed to be the shooter. They repeatedly asked for the public's help in identifying him.

The footage showed the suspect calmly walking in a nearby neighbourhood both before and immediately ​after the attack. It also includes moments when police vehicles arrived with their lights flashing.

“He could be anywhere,” Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez had said on Wednesday, adding that authorities did not initially know the suspect’s identity or motive. “We still don’t know who the person is or where he is.”

In addition to the suspect, the police also circulated photos of another unidentified man, whom they claimed they wanted to speak with as a potential witness who could have relevant information.

Initially, authorities announced a person was in custody a day after the shooting. However, they later released that individual after determining he was not involved.