A crucial tip from an amateur detective on social media platform Reddit proved instrumental in identifying and locating the main suspect in the deadly shooting at Brown University in the United States.
The Anonymous Tip That Cracked the Case
Following the shooting on the Ivy League campus in Providence, Rhode Island, police released footage of a person of interest. This prompted an anonymous Reddit user, known only by the pseudonym 'John', to come forward with vital information. John told authorities he recognised the man, described as approximately 5ft 8ins with a stocky build, from an encounter earlier on the day of the attack.
John's detailed post on the forum stated he had seen the individual using a key fob for a specific vehicle. "The police need to look into a grey Nissan with Florida plates, possibly a rental," he wrote, providing the precise location where it was parked near the Rhode Island Historical Society.
From Online Lead to Fatal Discovery
Acting on this tip, investigators reviewed CCTV and confirmed the existence of the grey Nissan with Florida license plates. Using surveillance networks, they tracked the vehicle's movements from Providence to a Boston suburb and finally to a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, roughly 80 miles north.
There, on Thursday 18 December, they discovered the body of Claudio Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national and former student of the university. Valente was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officials confirmed he had changed the car's plates in an attempt to evade capture.
A Chilling Encounter Before the Attack
In his account to police, John explained he first saw the masked man inside the Barus and Holley building's bathroom facilities at around 1.45pm on the day of the incident. He became alarmed by the man's clothing, which he deemed inappropriate for the weather, and began to follow him.
John noted the suspect's parking spot and even inspected the vehicle, observing "two fanny style bags on the rear floorboard." The confrontation ended with the suspect accusing John of harassment. Tragically, just two hours later, the shooting occurred, leaving two people dead and nine others injured.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha praised the tip during a press conference. "He blew this case right open," Neronha stated. "That person led us to the car, which led us to the name, which led us to the photographs... that matched the clothing of our shooter." This case highlights the unexpected but sometimes critical role public vigilance and online communities can play in modern police investigations.
