MIT Professor Found Shot in Home
A professor of nuclear science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was tragically shot and killed in his home, with a neighbor discovering him on the front porch after hearing gunshots while lighting candles for Hanukkah.
Nuno Loureiro, a 47-year-old married father of three, was shot late Monday in Brookline and succumbed to his injuries later at a hospital. This incident occurred just days following a mass shooting at Brown University, roughly 80 miles away, casting a shadow over the normally quiet Boston suburb.
Louise Cohen, who lives upstairs from Loureiro, recounted her experience to a local newspaper, stating she heard several gunshots around 8:30 p.m. while preparing for the holiday. She found Loureiro lying near the entrance of the building and quickly called 911, along with another neighbor and Loureiro’s wife, Ines.
“I can’t sleep right now,” Cohen shared with the paper. “This family is truly amazing. I can hardly believe someone would want to harm him.”
Another neighbor, Ann Greenwald, mentioned that she was inside when she heard what her husband recognized as gunshots. “When I got outside, there were already a lot of police cars,” she recalled, expressing her sorrow for the family, whom she didn’t know well but often exchanged greetings with in the neighborhood.
“We are all here to help in any way we can, and I know many people are organizing support for the family,” she added.
No suspects have been identified, and authorities had made no arrests as of Wednesday morning. This unsettling event comes shortly after a gunman killed two and injured nine at Brown University, still at large.
“This is an active and ongoing homicide investigation,” Brookline Police Chief Jennifer Peyster stated. “To protect the integrity of the investigation, we can share limited information at this time and ask for the community’s understanding and patience.”
The police chief reassured concerned locals during a vigil for Loureiro that patrols would be increased in the area.
Greenwald described the situation as “horrifying,” noting that the the assailant remained free and the motive for the shooting was unclear.
Loureiro had been with MIT since 2016, becoming the deputy director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center in 2022. He was appointed director of MIT’s Center for Plasma Science and Fusion last year, focusing on advancements in clean energy technology.
The research center employed over 250 individuals and was one of the school’s largest laboratories when Loureiro took the lead. Dennis White, a fellow professor, praised him for his mentorship and leadership qualities, stating that he was “widely admired for his clarity and compassion.”
In January, a previous announcement from President Joe Biden recognized Loureiro for his contributions to science, highlighting a prestigious award given to exceptional early-career scientists and engineers.
