BOSTON, Mass. (AP) — The search for a suspect in the shocking shooting death of Nuno F.G. Loureiro, a physics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, escalated Wednesday. Loureiro was shot at his home in Brookline on Monday night and died on Tuesday at a local hospital, as confirmed by the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office.
At the time, no suspects were in custody according to officials. The investigation has raised alarm in the scientific and academic communities, with many reflecting on Loureiro's significant contributions as a physicist.
Loureiro, aged 47, had joined MIT in 2016 and was recognized for his efforts in advancing clean energy through plasma science, leading MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center since his appointment last year. As one of the world’s leading research facilities in the field, it involved over 250 researchers across multiple buildings.
In a tragic parallel, the investigation into Loureiro's killing follows an unsolved shooting at Brown University, located 50 miles away, which resulted in the death of two students and injuries to several others.last weekend.
The FBI has indicated that there is no apparent connection between the two shooting incidents, although both remain under investigation.
Cared for by his colleagues and students, Loureiro grew up in Viseu, Portugal, transitioning from his studies in Lisbon to complete his doctorate in London. He expressed hope that his research would greatly impact future generations, asserting that fusion energy could alter the course of human progress.
MIT President Sally Kornbluth described Loureiro’s death as a “shocking loss,” and a statement issued by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa termed it “an irreparable loss for science.”
Witness accounts from nearby residents indicate that loud noises were heard around the time of the shooting, with some fearing they were gunfire. Mourners have already visited Loureiro's apartment to pay their respects.
As police work diligently on the case, the academic community is left to reminisce about a brilliant mind that sought solutions to some of humanity’s most pressing challenges.
At the time, no suspects were in custody according to officials. The investigation has raised alarm in the scientific and academic communities, with many reflecting on Loureiro's significant contributions as a physicist.
Loureiro, aged 47, had joined MIT in 2016 and was recognized for his efforts in advancing clean energy through plasma science, leading MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center since his appointment last year. As one of the world’s leading research facilities in the field, it involved over 250 researchers across multiple buildings.
In a tragic parallel, the investigation into Loureiro's killing follows an unsolved shooting at Brown University, located 50 miles away, which resulted in the death of two students and injuries to several others.last weekend.
The FBI has indicated that there is no apparent connection between the two shooting incidents, although both remain under investigation.
Cared for by his colleagues and students, Loureiro grew up in Viseu, Portugal, transitioning from his studies in Lisbon to complete his doctorate in London. He expressed hope that his research would greatly impact future generations, asserting that fusion energy could alter the course of human progress.
MIT President Sally Kornbluth described Loureiro’s death as a “shocking loss,” and a statement issued by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa termed it “an irreparable loss for science.”
Witness accounts from nearby residents indicate that loud noises were heard around the time of the shooting, with some fearing they were gunfire. Mourners have already visited Loureiro's apartment to pay their respects.
As police work diligently on the case, the academic community is left to reminisce about a brilliant mind that sought solutions to some of humanity’s most pressing challenges.
