Authorities in the United States are actively investigating a potential connection between last weekend's deadly mass shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and the fatal shooting of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor just two days later. This development follows information from three sources familiar with the ongoing investigation who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Two Campuses, Two Tragedies
The violent incident at Brown University occurred on Saturday, where an attacker opened fire inside a classroom, killing two students and wounding nine others before fleeing the scene. The shooting sent shockwaves through the prestigious Ivy League campus.
Approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) away, MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro was fatally shot in his home on Monday and later died in hospital on Tuesday. The proximity in time and location between the two violent crimes has now prompted investigators to explore a possible link.
Two of the anonymous sources confirmed on Thursday that investigators have identified a person of interest in both shootings and are actively seeking that individual. This marks a significant shift from earlier statements by the FBI, which had said it knew of no links between the two cases.
A Frustrating Search for Answers
As the investigation into the Brown University attack nears the one-week mark, frustration is mounting in Providence. The assailant managed to escape, and a clear image of the shooter's face has not been made public. Authorities have scoured the area for evidence and pleaded with the public to review any personal security or phone footage from the week before the attack, theorizing the shooter may have cased the location ahead of time.
Despite releasing several video clips showing a person matching the shooter's description in the area, the individual is consistently seen with a mask on or their head turned. The attack occurred in an older section of an engineering building with few cameras, and investigators believe the shooter used a door facing a residential street, possibly explaining the lack of clear campus camera footage.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley acknowledged it is "a scary time in the city" and that families are having difficult conversations about safety. "We are doing everything we can to reassure folks, to provide comfort," Smiley stated when asked if the city was safe.
Learning from Past High-Profile Cases
Retired FBI agent and mass shooting expert Katherine Schweit noted that in such targeted, public attacks, perpetrators are typically quickly apprehended, killed, or die by suicide. When they evade immediate capture, investigations can take time. "The best hope for solutions is going to come from the public," Schweit emphasized.
Historical cases illustrate varied timelines: the 2013 Boston Marathon bombers were caught after four days, while the 2023 Lewiston, Maine shooter was found dead two days later. In contrast, the suspect in last year's killing of a UnitedHealthcare CEO in New York City was arrested five days after the crime.
Retired NYPD detective sergeant Felipe Rodriguez observed that modern shooters appear to be learning evasion tactics. "At this point, they're actually trying to get away. And they're actually evading police with an effective methodology, which I haven't seen before," he said.
Authorities describe the person they are seeking as approximately 5 feet, 8 inches (173 centimeters) tall with a stocky build. While the motive remains a mystery, officials stated Wednesday that no evidence currently suggests a specific individual was targeted in the Brown University attack.
