DOJ flags security gaps at Brown University after deadly campus shooting

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The Department of Justice’s Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche joined the discussion about the recent shooting at Brown University on Friday, December 19. 

While speaking to Lawrence Jones on 'Fox and Friends', Blanche addressed the lack of surveillance cameras on campus, which prolonged the five-day-long manhunt for the shooter that concluded on Thursday. 

Blanche said that the Department of Justice was “concerned” about the security failures and that it was something that everyone should be focused on. 

Todd Blanche says focus will shift toward investigating motive

When Lawrence Jones asked Todd Blanche about Claudio Neves Valente’s motive to kill two and wound 11 Brown University shooters, the deputy attorney general said that the DOJ didn’t know.

He added that everyone would be focused on the possible motive in the coming days. Blanche also shed light on the combined efforts that went into the investigation as he praised several different sectors for coming together.

He stated that the federal agencies, the state law enforcement and the Department of Justice had been “completely focused” on finding the shooter, and since Valente was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the focus would begin to change. 

He said that the main focus would be to understand what happened, but wanted to echo Pam Bondi’s statements. 

“While completely tragic, our hearts go out to the victims and their families, this was an all-out effort,” he added. 

Homeless man credited for breaking the case wide open 

‘Fox News’ reported that the authorities were crediting a homeless man named John for providing them with the lead that led them to Valente.

John, a former Brown University student, grew suspicious of Valente when the two locked eyes in the bathroom of the engineering and physics building.

John followed the gunman out of the building, and after following him, asked him why he was circling the block.

Valente questioned John and accused him of harassing him. After the exchange, John shared his suspicion on Reddit, and also called the helpline three days after the post was made to bring it to the authorities’ attention.

John’s Reddit post, made under the username of lamin_kaare, stated that the police needed to look into a “grey Nissan with Florida” plates.

The post also said that it was parked in front of the “little shack” behind the Rhode Island Historical Society. John described his interaction with Valente online and said that he approached the car after he saw Valente use his fob to unlock it and lock it again.