Brown University placed Vice President for Public Safety Rodney Chatman on administrative leave as former Providence Police Chief Hugh T. Clements steps in to lead an independent after-action review of the Dec. 13 shooting that killed two students and injured nine. The U.S. Department of Education has opened a Clery Act review and requested campus safety records. Brown retained former federal prosecutor Zachary Cunha to coordinate with law enforcement and says more than 1,200 cameras cover campus, though not every interior space.
Brown Puts Public Safety Chief on Leave as Federal Review Opens After Deadly Campus Shooting
Photos of Brown University shooting victims MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, left, and Ella Cook, are seen amongst flowers at a makeshift memorial outside the Engineering Research Center, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, in Providence, Rhode Island. - Robert F. Bukaty/AP
Brown University announced Monday that it has placed Rodney Chatman, the university’s vice president for public safety and emergency management, on administrative leave while an independent after-action review is carried out into the Dec. 13 shooting that left two students dead and nine others wounded.
Interim Leadership and After-Action Review
University President Christina Paxson named Hugh T. Clements, the former chief of the Providence Police Department, as interim head of public safety. Clements will also oversee the after-action review. "A thorough after-action review is an essential part of any recovery and response following a mass casualty event like the one that has devastated our campus," Paxson said.
Federal Review Under the Clery Act
The U.S. Department of Education has opened a review to determine whether Brown complied with the Clery Act, which requires institutions that receive federal student aid to meet specific campus safety and reporting obligations. The department has requested documents including annual security reports, records of reported crimes and crime logs from recent years. A Brown spokesperson said the university will respond directly to the Department of Education.
Security Measures and Incident Details
Brown described its campus security network as "expansive," noting more than 1,200 interior and exterior cameras across more than 250 buildings, but acknowledged the cameras do not cover every hallway, classroom or office. University officials said the doors to the Barus and Holley engineering building — where the shooting occurred — were unlocked when the gunman entered.
Suspect and Related Fatality
Authorities identified the suspected shooter as Claudio Neves Valente, 48, who was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police also allege he killed MIT professor Nuno Loureiro at his Boston-area home.
Notifications, Emergency Systems and Campus Response
Paxson said the university’s notification system that sends texts, calls and emails was activated within minutes of the incident and delivered messages to more than 20,000 people. She noted that campus sirens are reserved for broad-scale emergencies and are not used during active-shooter events because they can trigger mass movement toward buildings.
Outside Counsel and Coordination With Law Enforcement
Brown has retained former federal prosecutor Zachary Cunha to assist in coordinating with federal, state and local law enforcement. The university said it routinely engages outside counsel whose expertise complements the Office of the General Counsel.
Support, Recovery and Continuing Priorities
Paxson emphasized the university’s focus on healing and recovery, including addressing the psychological and social needs of students, faculty and staff while working to maintain Brown as a safe, inclusive academic community.
Context
Earlier this year the university reached an agreement with the federal government to restore federal funding; under that deal Brown agreed to provide $50 million in grants over 10 years to Rhode Island workforce development organizations.
