Providence Tipster John’s Eyewitness Account Unlocks Brown Shooter, Leading to Self‑Inflicted Death and $50,000 Reward

A stranger on a Providence sidewalk became the linchpin in solving two tragic shootings.

The Catalyst

On a cold December afternoon, a man named John—known only as “John” in a Providence police affidavit—encountered a figure on a sidewalk outside Brown University. Though the meeting was brief, it would later prove pivotal. John’s account helped police identify the suspect believed to have killed two students inside a Brown engineering building and, two days later, to have shot a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor in his Brookline home.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha praised the tipster’s contribution, saying, “He blew this case right open.” He added, “When you crack it, you crack it.”

The Brown University Shooting

On Saturday, a shooter fired more than 40 rounds inside a Brown engineering building, killing two students. For the first five days, the investigation yielded little progress. The community’s anxiety grew as police seemed stuck.

The turning point came on the sixth day of the investigation. Late Thursday, Providence police announced they had located the suspected gunman, who had died from a self‑inflicted gunshot wound.

The suspect was identified as 48‑year‑old Claudio Manuel Neves Valente. Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed that Valente had been a student at the university years earlier and would have attended classes in the building where the shooting occurred.

John’s Key Observations

According to the police affidavit, John had several encounters with Valente before the Saturday attack:

• Bathroom encounter: John met Valente in the engineering building’s bathroom just hours before the shooting. He noted the suspect’s clothing was “inappropriate and inadequate for the weather.”
• Sidewalk encounter: Outside, a few blocks from the building, John watched Valente suddenly turn around from a grey Nissan when he saw John. The interaction became a “game of cat and mouse,” as John described it.
• Vehicle clues: John suggested that police investigate a possible rental grey Nissan. Reddit users urged him to inform the FBI, and John complied.

The tip was learned on Dec. 16, three days after the shooting and a day after the tip line was created.

Vehicle Investigation

Initially, officials had not linked a vehicle to the shooter. John’s mention of a grey Nissan prompted police to obtain video of a Nissan Sentra sedan with Florida plates. Using this new detail, Providence police tapped into a network of more than 70 street cameras operated by Flock Safety.

The surveillance footage helped confirm the suspect’s presence and movements, solidifying the link between Valente and the crime scenes.

The Final Confrontation

During one of their encounters, John shouted, “Your car is back there, why are you circling the block?” The suspect replied, “I don’t know you from nobody,” and repeatedly asked, “Why are you harassing me?”

John later stated he saw Valente approach the Nissan sedan again and chose to walk away. On Wednesday night, he posted on Reddit: “Respectfully, I have said all I have to say on the matter to the right people.”

Reward and Aftermath

As of Thursday, it was unclear whether John would receive the $50,000 reward the FBI had offered for information about the Brown shooting. Ted Docks, special agent in charge of the FBI, said it was possible when asked by reporters. “It would be logical to think that, absolutely, that individual would be entitled to that,” he said.

The case’s resolution—finding the suspect dead from a self‑inflicted gunshot—closed a chapter of uncertainty for the Providence community. The investigation’s breakthrough underscores the impact a single eyewitness can have on law‑enforcement efforts.

Key Takeaways

• John’s eyewitness account was crucial in identifying Claudio Manuel Neves Valente as the Brown University shooter.
• The suspect’s vehicle, a Nissan Sentra with Florida plates, was identified through John’s tip and confirmed via street‑camera footage.
• Valente was found dead from a self‑inflicted gunshot wound, concluding the investigation.
• The FBI’s $50,000 reward remains pending for John, the tipster.

The Providence police investigation demonstrates how a single, detailed observation can unravel a complex criminal case, bringing closure to victims’ families and the broader community.