Brown University Enhances Security Following Tragic Shooting
In the wake of the mass shooting at Brown University on December 13, authorities have rolled out new safety measures. This includes the installation of security cameras in the Barth & Hawley Engineering and Physics Building, the site of the incident where 11 students were shot, resulting in two fatalities.
Hugh T. Clements Jr., the interim vice chancellor for public safety, addressed the community in a letter. He indicated that immediate steps will see an increase in public safety staff and the continuation of card access, key requirements, and ID checks for building entry.
Looking ahead, by the spring semester of 2026, the University Police plan to shift all remaining buildings to card access. This will involve adding blue light phones equipped with cameras, enhancing security cameras in key areas—including the Barth and Hawley Building—and deploying additional panic buttons in critical locations.
Additionally, the spring semester will introduce training focused on trauma-informed safety and active shooter preparedness.
Clements, previously the chief of the Providence Police Department, was appointed interim deputy chief of public safety after the prior chief was placed on administrative leave due to a police report. Notably, reports emerged that a school custodian, Derek Lisi, witnessed the shooter prior to the event and had alerted security.
The shooter, identified as 48-year-old Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, an ex-student of Brown, opened fire in the engineering and physics building, claiming the lives of students Ella Cook and Mohammad Aziz Umurzokov. Following this, he attempted to target MIT professor Nuno Loureiro in Boston. Shortly thereafter, Neves Valente was found deceased from an apparent suicide in a storage room in Salem, New Hampshire.
The Department of Education has initiated an investigation into Brown University for potential violations of the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, which mandates compliance with safety and security standards to qualify for federal student aid.
Clements noted that the department will also conduct a thorough after-action review of both the incident and the response, alongside an external evaluation of campus safety and security involving community feedback.
“The Brown community has faced an unimaginable tragedy,” Clements expressed in his letter. “It’s crucial to state that what occurred on December 13 must never happen again—either at Brown or anywhere else. We bear a responsibility to our community to address this with unwavering commitment.”
As he takes on his new role, Clements acknowledged that there are pressing questions about the integrity of safety and security systems. “Recognizing these questions isn’t about placing blame; rather, it’s about accountability, learning, and growth. True safety encompasses more than just visibility; it’s grounded in preparation, openness, trust, and partnerships.”
The initiative will aim to enhance collaboration with local agencies, improve emergency communication and training, and raise awareness regarding safety resources available on campus.
