“In a shocking turn of events, Brown University custodian Derek Lisi said he had seen the shooter more than a dozen times before the Dec. 13 campus shooting.”
Lisi’s Observations
Lisi told WPRI that he had spotted the gunman in the Barus and Holley building and surrounding areas multiple times before the attack. “Really simple. Go with your gut feeling.” he said. He recalled seeing the suspect at about 6:20 p.m. the day before Thanksgiving and again just after 8 p.m. on Dec. 1. “Something kept telling me, ‘Don’t ignore it. Don’t ignore it,'” Lisi added.
Reporting to Security
Lisi reported the individual as suspicious to Event Staff Services LLC (ESS), a third-party security vendor for Brown, on three separate occasions. When he warned them on Dec. 1, a staff member said they were only present to cover an event. ESS did not respond to requests for comment. The Boston Globe quoted ESS president David Madonna: “We have nothing to do with watching buildings. Whenever there’s an event at Brown, they hire us to do ID check and capacity counts in their rooms.”
Police Affidavit and Aftermath
A police affidavit released publicly states that Lisi recognized Neves Valente by an unusual gait-a limp-and that he was wearing a surgical mask and dressed the same as the man in the video. Neves Valente, the shooter, later traveled to Brookline, Massachusetts, two days after the Brown shooting and murdered MIT professor Nuno Loureiro. He then went to a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, where police found him dead on Dec. 18. A New Hampshire federal medical examiner ruled the death a suicide from a gunshot wound to the head. Federal investigators linked ballistics from both attacks to pistols recovered at the storage facility.
Lisi’s Reflections
Lisi said the doors of Barus and Holley are usually locked on weekends, but they were open on the day of the attack. “The building should not have been open access,” he said. He wonders if more cameras could have helped identify Neves Valente sooner. “Two students aren’t here today – that kills me every day,” Lisi said. He does not blame anyone but the shooter, noting that no one expected such a tragedy on Brown’s campus.
Call for Vigilance
Lisi urged people to trust their instincts and not be afraid to speak up if something seems off. “If you see something’s off, call it in right away,” he said. He also praised the unidentified tipster police refer to as “John,” a Brown graduate experiencing homelessness, for coming forward. R.I. Attorney General Peter Neronha said the information “blew the case wide open.”
Key Takeaways
- Derek Lisi reported the shooter more than a dozen times before Dec. 13.
- ESS’s role was limited to event ID checks, not building surveillance.
- The shooter was linked to a second murder in Massachusetts and a suicide in New Hampshire.
Lisi’s testimony highlights gaps in campus security and underscores the importance of heeding warning signs.
