MIT Physicist Nuno Loureiro Fatally Shot in Brookline Home; Homicide Comes Days After a Jewish Professor's Classroom was Attacked by a Gunman

Brookline, Massachusetts — December 17, 2025. As of this morning, there are no significant new developments in the homicide investigation into the death of MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro, 47, who was fatally shot at his home on Gibbs Street in Brookline on Monday evening, December 15.Key points from the latest reports:

Loureiro, director of MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center and a professor of nuclear science and engineering and physics, was found with multiple gunshot wounds (sources indicate three shots, including one to the chest) in the foyer of his apartment building around 8:30 p.m.

He was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, where he was pronounced dead on Tuesday morning.

The Norfolk County District Attorney's Office, along with Brookline Police, Massachusetts State Police, and MIT Police, continue to treat this as an active and ongoing homicide investigation.

No arrests have been made, and no suspects are in custody. Authorities have not publicly identified any person of interest or released details on a possible motive.

Law enforcement has stated there is no known connection to the separate mass shooting at Brown University on December 13, despite initial speculation in some media and social media circles.

Community response:A large candlelight vigil was held Tuesday evening on Gibbs Street, attended by members of the Brookline and MIT communities, temporarily closing the street.

MIT President Sally Kornbluth and colleagues have described Loureiro as a brilliant scientist, compassionate mentor, and leader in plasma physics and fusion energy research. The university is providing counseling and support services.

Online speculation, including claims on social media that Loureiro was Jewish or pro-Israel and that the shooting may be targeted or linked to antisemitism, remains unsubstantiated. Official statements and mainstream reports do not mention his religious or political affiliations, and authorities have urged caution against unverified rumors.The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Brookline Police or the Norfolk District Attorney's Office.

Brookline, Massachusetts - December 16, 2025A prominent Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor was fatally shot in his home late Monday night, prompting an active homicide investigation by local and state authorities.

Nuno F.G. Loureiro, 47, a renowned physicist and director of MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds early Tuesday morning.

Brookline police responded to reports of gunshots at a residence on Gibbs Street around 8:30 p.m. on December 15. Officers found Loureiro in the building's foyer suffering from severe injuries. He was rushed to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, where he was pronounced dead.

"This is an active and ongoing homicide investigation," the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office stated, involving Brookline Police, Massachusetts State Police, and MIT Police. No arrests have been made, and no suspect has been publicly identified. Authorities have not released details on a possible motive or whether the attack was targeted.

Loureiro, a Portuguese national who joined MIT's faculty in 2016, was celebrated for his groundbreaking work in plasma physics, turbulence, and nuclear fusion energy-a field aimed at harnessing clean power to address climate change.

He earned his Ph.D. from Imperial College London and conducted research in Portugal and the UK before moving to the U.S. In May 2025, he was appointed director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center.MIT President Sally Kornbluth described his death as a "shocking loss," praising Loureiro as a brilliant scientist, mentor, and leader. Colleagues echoed this sentiment, with one former center director calling him "universally admired for his articulate, compassionate manner."

The university is providing support to students, faculty, and staff affected by the tragedy.Neighbors reported hearing loud bangs consistent with gunfire and expressed shock in the normally quiet, upscale neighborhood.

MIT Professor Nuno Loureiro Fatally Shot in Brookline Home; Homicide Investigation Underway

One resident placed signs requesting a candlelight vigil in Loureiro's memory.The killing comes amid heightened campus security concerns nationwide, following a separate mass shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, on December 13, where a gunman killed two students and injured nine others in a classroom. That suspect remains at large, with the FBI offering a $50,000 reward. Law enforcement sources have stated there is no known connection between the two incidents.

Online speculation has linked Loureiro's death to antisemitic motives, with some social media posts falsely claiming he was Jewish or pro-Israel. However, mainstream reports and official statements make no mention of his religious or political affiliations, and colleagues have described him as apolitical on such matters. Authorities have urged the public to avoid unsubstantiated rumors that could hinder the investigation.

Nothing is publicly known about who killed Nuno Loureiro or why.Nuno F. G. Loureiro, a 47-year-old Portuguese-born professor of nuclear science and engineering at MIT, and director of its Plasma Science and Fusion Center, was fatally shot at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts, on the evening of December 15, 2025. He was taken to a hospital with gunshot wounds and pronounced dead the following day.Authorities, including the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office and Brookline police, are investigating the incident as a homicide. As of December 16, 2025, no suspect has been identified or taken into custody, and no motive has been disclosed.

The investigation is described as active and ongoing, but police have released no further details on the circumstances, perpetrator, or possible reasons.

Social media includes unverified speculation (e.g., links to antisemitism, energy industry interests, or other unrelated incidents), but these claims lack evidence from official sources and should not be treated as fact. Given how recent the event is, more information may emerge as the investigation progresses.