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Authorities are investigating whether the fatal shooting of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro in Brookline, Massachusetts, is connected to the mass shooting at Brown University, according to four senior law enforcement officials. The FBI initially stated that there was no evidence linking the two incidents, but as the investigation progresses, police are exploring additional leads.
The mass shooting at Brown University occurred on Saturday (December 13), resulting in the deaths of two students and injuries to nine others in a classroom. The shooter managed to escape, and authorities are still searching for a suspect. Just two days later, Professor Nuno Loureiro, a physicist and fusion scientist, was shot in his home and died the following day.
Investigators have reportedly identified a person of interest in both shootings and are actively seeking this individual. Despite having released several videos showing a masked person matching witness descriptions, authorities have not yet apprehended the suspect. The lack of clear footage from Brown's older engineering building, where the attack occurred, has hindered the investigation.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley assured residents that the city is doing everything possible to ensure their safety, though he acknowledged the current climate of fear. As the investigation continues, authorities urge the public to provide any information that might aid in capturing the suspect.