BROOKLINE, Mass. (AP) – Authorities have escalated their search for a suspect in the murder of professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro, who was fatally shot at his Brookline home on December 14, 2025. Loureiro, a 47-year-old physicist and respected leader in fusion science, succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital the following day. The Norfolk District Attorney’s Office confirmed that the investigation remains “active and ongoing,” but no suspects are currently in custody.
The circumstances surrounding Loureiro's murder have drawn attention amidst an ongoing investigation into a separate shooting incident at Brown University in nearby Providence, Rhode Island, where two students were killed and nine others injured during an unsolved shooting. The FBI has stated that they have found no evidence connecting the two crimes.
In the wake of the tragedy, dozens of mourners gathered outside Loureiro's apartment on Tuesday night, with many participants holding candles in memory of the professor. Neighbors received notices urging them to display candles in their windows in support of Loureiro's family. The atmosphere was somber, with many attendees silent and emotional as they reflected on the loss.
As the timing of the murder coincided with students' winter break, reactions on the MIT campus have been mixed, with several students expressing reluctance to discuss the incident as they were unfamiliar with Loureiro. One Boston University student living nearby reported hearing three loud noises on the night of the shooting, which she initially feared were gunshots.
Dedicating his life to advancing clean energy and scientific research, Loureiro joined MIT in 2016 and was appointed to lead the Plasma Science and Fusion Center in 2024. This center, which was one of MIT’s largest laboratories with over 250 personnel across seven buildings, focused on pivotal research in fusion energy. His contributions to the field garnered him respect as a professor of physics and nuclear science and engineering.
Born in Viseu, Portugal, Loureiro pursued his education in Lisbon and later obtained a doctorate in London. Prior to his tenure at MIT, he was affiliated with a nuclear fusion research institute in his home country. Dennis Whyte, an engineering professor and former director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center, praised Loureiro’s leadership, describing him as “a mentor, friend, teacher, colleague, and leader” whose articulate and compassionate demeanor earned him universal admiration.
MIT President Sally Kornbluth called Loureiro’s death “a shocking loss,” and Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa released a statement mourning the incident as “an irreparable loss for science” and for everyone who knew him. Loureiro had previously expressed optimism about the future of fusion energy, highlighting MIT’s role in tackling the world’s major challenges. He believed that “fusion energy will change the course of human history.”
The investigatory efforts into Loureiro’s murder continue as the community grapples with the unexpected and tragic loss of a promising scientist and leader. The impact of his passing is palpable, echoing throughout MIT and beyond as colleagues, friends, and students remember his significant contributions to science and education.
