Harvard Law Schoolโข Researcherโข Arrested After Pelletโ Gun Incident Near Synagogue
Brookline, MA – โ Carlos Portugal Gouvea, a researcher at Harvard Law โSchoolโฃ and CEO of a Brazilian think tank focused on environmental and social justice, โwas arrested last week followingโฃ an incident where he allegedly fired a pellet gun near โTemple Beth Zion โคinโ Brookline, Massachusetts.
Gouvea โpleaded guilty to all charges related toโค the incident and โwasโ released on personal recognizance,with a โขcourt hearing scheduled for November.
Brookline Police deputy Superintendent Paul Campbell stated that the initial investigation does not suggest the shots were intentionally aimedโ at the synagogue or its congregation.”Fromโข what we certainly know, it does not appear this was related to the Temple or an instanceโฃ of antisemitism. The proximity โtoโข the Temple and the timing โข(Yom Kippur)โค appear to be coincidental,” Campbell said in an email. “Mr. Gouvea โขlives โคin โthe area.”
Harvard Law School has placed Gouvea on โadministrative leave while they gather more information about the case. “Carlos Portugal Gouvรชa has been placed on administrative leave asโฃ the school seeks to learn more about this matter,” saidโข Harvard Law School spokesperson Jeff Neal in a statement.
The incident occurs amidst ongoing scrutiny of Harvard by โคthe Trump Management regardingโค allegationsโข ofโฃ antisemitism on campus. Federal officials have accused the university of failing to โฃadequately address concerns raised by Jewish and Israeli students and faculty followingโข the October 7,2023,attacks against Israel.
The administration previously alleged that aโ prolonged protest encampment during demonstrations over the war in Gaza โคcreatedโ a hostile surroundings. president Trumpโ recently stated he was nearing a “deal” with Harvard, potentially involvingโค the university โpaying $500 million to establish trade schoolsโ focused on fields like artificial intelligence, following the administration’s stripping of billions in research funding and initiation of investigations.
Harvard has filed a lawsuit challenging the fundingโฃ cuts. โคU.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, an Obama appointee, ruled in September that the Trump administration invoked antisemitism as a “smokescreen” for its intent to defund the university due to political disagreements. Judge Burroughs found the administration’s concern for Jewish students and faculty to be a “red herring” used to justify unlawfully freezing over $2.6 billion in โfunding, noting the government disregarded Harvard’s effortsโข to addressโข studentโฃ and staff concerns.
(Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty images, File)
Originally Published: October 5, 2025 at 2:28 PM EDT







