Homeless tipster living in Brown University campus basement cracks shooting case, 'entitled' to $50K reward

For four days, authorities searched for answers after a deadly shooting at Brown University. Hundreds of cameras, elite investigators, and one of the most expensive universities in the country still came up short. The case cracked only after a homeless man stepped forward with information police didn’t have.

That man, known publicly only as John, is now being credited by state and federal officials with providing the key tip that led investigators to identify Claudio Neves Valente as the suspect in the Brown University shooting and a separate killing of an MIT professor days later. Federal officials say John is likely "entitled" to a $50,000 reward, says the New York Post.

“He blew this case right open,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said.

John’s involvement became public after police released his image and asked to speak with him. Before authorities ever tracked him down, John had already posted on Reddit saying he recognized the suspect from police images circulated after the Brown shooting.

“I’m being dead serious,” the post said, according to court records. “The police need to look into a grey Nissan with Florida plates, possibly a rental.”

He described watching the suspect approach the vehicle, unlock it with a key fob, then abruptly back away and relock it. John said the behavior struck him as odd, prompting him to check the license plate when the man circled the block. At that point, investigators had no confirmed vehicle connected to the suspect.

Authorities later confirmed that Valente had been driving a rental car matching that description. From there, additional surveillance footage and records helped lead law enforcement to him.

According to court documents, John also told investigators he had encountered Valente earlier inside a bathroom at Brown’s engineering building and noticed his clothing was “inappropriate and inadequate for the weather.” Sources told Fox News that John had been living in the basement of the same building at the time, a fact unknown to university officials.

John later described a tense interaction outside the building, saying he followed Valente and called out to him. “Your car is back there, why are you circling the block?” he yelled, according to an affidavit. Valente responded, “I don’t know you from nobody,” and accused John of harassing him.

Federal agents said John’s information was decisive. FBI Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks said the tipster should qualify for the reward. “It would be logical to think that, absolutely, that individual would be entitled to that,” Docks said.