Brown University Under Investigation by US Authorities Following Fatal Shooting Incident

Brown University has placed its campus police chief on administrative leave following a tragic shooting rampage that occurred this month, resulting in the deaths of two students and injuries to nine others. In response, the Trump administration has initiated an investigation into the university’s security measures.

The Education Department’s Office of Federal Student Aid is set to review whether Brown violated the Clery Act, a 1990 law mandating that colleges maintain specific safety and security standards. Brown President Christina Paxson announced plans for a comprehensive overhaul of campus security, stating that Rodney Chatman, the vice president for public safety and emergency management, will also be placed on administrative leave.

State and local officials have indicated that the absence of clear security-camera footage from inside the Barus & Holley engineering building, where the shooting took place, hampered the search for the shooter. The suspected shooter, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national who had been a student at Brown, was found deceased in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, after a multiday manhunt. Authorities reported that Valente took his own life.

If Brown is found to have violated the Clery Act, it could face fines or be suspended from accessing federal aid. “The Trump Administration will fight to ensure that recipients of federal funding are vigorously protecting students’ safety and following security procedures as required under federal law,” stated US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.

After the horrific shooting on its campus, the Department of ED is reviewing Brown University to determine if it upheld its safety & security requirements under the law.

The Trump Admin will fight to ensure recipients of federal funding are protecting students’ safety.

— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) December 22, 2025

Reports following the incident indicated that Brown’s surveillance and security systems may not have met adequate standards, allowing the suspect to escape. Additionally, students and staff reported delays in emergency notifications regarding the active shooter situation.

In response to these concerns, Paxson announced several measures aimed at enhancing campus security, including the installation of more cameras and “panic alarms.” The university will also commission external reviews of its safety protocols and its handling of the incident.

Hugh Clements, a former police chief for the city of Providence, will take over public safety at the university on an interim basis.

A spokesperson for Brown clarified that Paxson’s announcement regarding security improvements was made independently of the ongoing investigation, and the university will respond directly to the Department of Education’s inquiries.

Interestingly, a custodian at the university reported seeing Valente multiple times on campus in the weeks leading up to the shooting. He noted that he observed what he considered suspicious behavior and had reported it to a security representative. Valente was seen looking into classrooms, including the one where the shooting eventually occurred.

Photo: Brown University students and community members take a moment at a makeshift memorial for the victims, in front of the Van Winkle Gates at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, on Dec. 15, 2025. Photographer: Bing Guan/AFP/Getty Images

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

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Brown University has placed its campus police chief on administrative leave following a tragic shooting rampage that occurred this month, resulting in the deaths of two students and injuries to nine others. In response, the Trump administration has initiated an investigation into the university’s security measures.

The Education Department’s Office of Federal Student Aid is set to review whether Brown violated the Clery Act, a 1990 law mandating that colleges maintain specific safety and security standards. Brown President Christina Paxson announced plans for a comprehensive overhaul of campus security, stating that Rodney Chatman, the vice president for public safety and emergency management, will also be placed on administrative leave.

State and local officials have indicated that the absence of clear security-camera footage from inside the Barus & Holley engineering building, where the shooting took place, hampered the search for the shooter. The suspected shooter, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national who had been a student at Brown, was found deceased in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, after a multiday manhunt. Authorities reported that Valente took his own life.

If Brown is found to have violated the Clery Act, it could face fines or be suspended from accessing federal aid. “The Trump Administration will fight to ensure that recipients of federal funding are vigorously protecting students’ safety and following security procedures as required under federal law,” stated US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.

After the horrific shooting on its campus, the Department of ED is reviewing Brown University to determine if it upheld its safety & security requirements under the law.

The Trump Admin will fight to ensure recipients of federal funding are protecting students’ safety.

— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) December 22, 2025

Reports following the incident indicated that Brown’s surveillance and security systems may not have met adequate standards, allowing the suspect to escape. Additionally, students and staff reported delays in emergency notifications regarding the active shooter situation.

In response to these concerns, Paxson announced several measures aimed at enhancing campus security, including the installation of more cameras and “panic alarms.” The university will also commission external reviews of its safety protocols and its handling of the incident.

Hugh Clements, a former police chief for the city of Providence, will take over public safety at the university on an interim basis.

A spokesperson for Brown clarified that Paxson’s announcement regarding security improvements was made independently of the ongoing investigation, and the university will respond directly to the Department of Education’s inquiries.

Interestingly, a custodian at the university reported seeing Valente multiple times on campus in the weeks leading up to the shooting. He noted that he observed what he considered suspicious behavior and had reported it to a security representative. Valente was seen looking into classrooms, including the one where the shooting eventually occurred.

Photo: Brown University students and community members take a moment at a makeshift memorial for the victims, in front of the Van Winkle Gates at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, on Dec. 15, 2025. Photographer: Bing Guan/AFP/Getty Images

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics
USA
Education
Universities