PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A tipster's strange encounter on a sidewalk outside Brown University was pivotal in leading police to the suspect responsible for the tragic shootings that claimed the lives of two students and an MIT professor. The unnamed source, referred to as 'John,' provided critical details that facilitated the identification of the shooter, who later was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
After an unsettling number of bullets were fired inside a Brown engineering building, anxiety gripped the Providence community as the police struggled to uncover the identity of the shooter. However, the investigation gained momentum thanks to John's testimony. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha lauded the tipster, saying, “He blew this case right open.”
John revealed that he had several encounters with the suspected shooter, 48-year-old Claudio Neves Valente, before the attack. He actively shared insights on the social media platform Reddit, indicating he recognized the individual and suggesting that the police should investigate a particular gray Nissan vehicle associated with the suspect.
Only three days post-shooting, law enforcement received John's tip and began connecting the dots, leading them to video footage and a network of surveillance cameras across Providence. These electronic resources ultimately verified John's claims, corroborating his observations of Neves Valente's behavior.
Notably, John recounted how he noticed the suspected shooter in the engineering building hours before the attack and engaged with him outside, noting cautious behavior that he termed a 'game of cat and mouse.' He later expressed his hope that by sharing information, he aided the authorities in resolving this case.
As the investigation concludes, the question of whether John will be rewarded for his assistance remains uncertain, despite FBI agents alluding to the possibility of the $50,000 reward for pertinent information pertaining to the Brown shooting.
