An MIT professor and internationally respected scientist was shot and killed at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts, on Monday night, authorities confirmed. The incident has sent shockwaves through the academic community and raised serious concerns as investigators continue to search for answers.
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Brookline police responded to a report of a shooting at a residence on Gibbs Street late Monday evening, according to the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office.
Upon arrival, officers found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was identified as Nuno F. G. Loureiro, 47, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead early Tuesday morning.
Loureiro was a highly regarded physicist and engineer, serving as the director of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center. He also held faculty positions in MIT’s departments of Nuclear Science and Engineering and Physics.
His work focused on plasma physics and fusion energy, fields in which he was widely recognized as a leading expert. Originally from Portugal, Loureiro’s death prompted international attention.
Portugal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs publicly confirmed his passing during a regulatory hearing before the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Portuguese Communities, underscoring the global impact of his academic contributions. The announcement has been met with grief from colleagues and institutions across multiple countries.
In a statement released Tuesday, an MIT spokesperson expressed deep sorrow over Loureiro’s death. “Sadly, I can confirm that Professor Nuno Loureiro, who died early this morning, was a current MIT faculty member in the departments of Nuclear Science & Engineering and Physics, as well as the Director of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center,” the statement read.
“Our deepest sympathies are with his family, students, colleagues, and all those who are grieving.” Earlier this year, Loureiro was honored as one of nearly 400 scientists and engineers to receive the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on early-career researchers.
The award, presented by former President Joe Biden, recognized Loureiro’s groundbreaking research and leadership in advancing fusion science. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear.
