A quiet Massachusetts neighbourhood. A sudden burst of gunfire. And a brilliant scientific career cut short. How did it come to this?
MIT has confirmed that Professor Nuno F. Gomes Loureiro, a 47-year-old nuclear science and engineering expert, died on Tuesday.
He was shot multiple times at his home in Brookline.
Police were called around 8:30pm on Monday after reports of gunshots inside an apartment building.
Loureiro was rushed to a Boston hospital, but doctors were unable to save him.
MIT Mourns Professor
Investigators say no one is in custody and the case remains an active homicide investigation.
A neighbour told US media she heard “three loud bangs” and initially thought someone was trying to break down a door.
Originally from Portugal, Loureiro earned his PhD at Imperial College London and joined MIT in 2016.
In 2024, he became director of the university’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center.
Leading research into magnetised plasma and clean fusion energy—work many saw as vital in the fight against climate change.
“He was a brilliant scientist and a brilliant person,” said former centre director Dennis Whyte, calling Loureiro a compassionate mentor and leader.
The discovery was first spotted by photographer Elio Della Ferrera.
He reflected: it’s a reminder of “how little we truly know about the places we live.”
