Police are probing whether the fatal shooting of MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro in Brookline, Massachusetts, is linked to the mass shooting that killed two students at Brown University last weekend.
Investigations into a Possible Connection
The FBI said at a press conference earlier this week that there was nothing linking the two incidents at that stage. As investigations continue, authorities are exploring additional leads to determine if a connection exists.
Michael Tabman, a retired FBI special agent in charge, joined NBC10 Boston on Thursday to discuss the potential link between the Brookline shooting and the Brown University incident.
Details of the Brookline Shooting
Nuno F.G. Loureiro, 47, a well‑known MIT nuclear science professor, was shot and killed at his home on Gibbs Street on Monday night. The prosecutor’s office said the homicide investigation was ongoing and no suspects were in custody as of Wednesday morning. Police in Brookline have not returned calls for comment.
Brookline officials issued a statement on Wednesday to quell “rumors and fear” spreading through the community, revealing only a few details about the case.
Loureiro joined MIT in 2016 and was named last year to lead the Plasma Science and Fusion Center, a lab with more than 250 people across seven buildings. He was married, grew up in Viseu in central Portugal, studied in Lisbon, earned a doctorate in London, and had previously worked as a researcher at a nuclear fusion institute in Lisbon.
A 22‑year‑old Boston University student living near Loureiro’s apartment told The Boston Globe she heard three loud noises Monday evening and feared it was gunfire: “I had never heard anything so loud, so I assumed they were gunshots,” Liv Schachner said.
Brown University Shooting Update
Providence officials are expected to give an update at 4 p.m. on their investigation into the Brown University shooting, which killed two students and injured nine others. Authorities have released several videos from the day of the attack, showing the person they’re seeking on streets just off campus, wearing a mask or with their head turned.
“I believe that this is probably the most intense investigation going on right now in this nation,” Providence police chief Col. Oscar Perez said at a Wednesday news conference. He added that witness accounts of the shooter match the person in the videos.
Investigators describe the suspect as about 5 ft 8 in tall and stocky, but they have not yet identified the individual. Motive remains a mystery, and investigators have not found evidence that someone was targeted.
The police have canvassed nearby neighborhoods and received hundreds of tips. On Wednesday they also released a new photo of a separate individual who was in “proximity of the person of interest” and asked the public to help identify that person.
Key Takeaways
- Police are investigating a possible link between the Brookline shooting of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro and the Brown University mass shooting.
- No suspects are in custody as of Wednesday morning, and authorities have not yet identified the suspect in the Brown incident.
- Brookline officials have issued a statement to address community concerns, while Providence police continue to seek the Brown suspect.
The investigations into both shootings remain ongoing, with authorities urging the public to remain vigilant and report any information that could help solve these tragic events.
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