Harvard professor to voluntarily leave country after reportedly shooting BB gun near synagogue

A Brazilian academic at Harvard Law School has chosen to return to his home country after being arrested for allegedly discharging a BB gun near a synagogue just before Yom Kippur.

The Department of Homeland Security reported that Carlos Portugal Gouvea fired the BB gun on October 2 outside Temple Beth Zion in Brookline, Massachusetts, describing the act as bold antisemitism. Gouvea, however, claims he was attempting to deal with a rodent problem in the area.

Local authorities and the synagogue have not classified the event as antisemitic, presenting a different perspective from the DHS account. Police informed the temple that Gouvea was reportedly unaware that he was shooting near a synagogue or that a religious holiday was taking place.

Brooklines official website includes resources for addressing rodent issues, noting a recent rise in rat activity. Gouvea was apprehended by law enforcement on the same day as the incident, and his J-1 visa was revoked by DHS on October 16.

In November, Gouvea entered a plea agreement, admitting to unlawful use of the air rifle while other charges, such as disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct, were dismissed. He was taken into custody by ICE Boston Enforcement and Removal Operations on Wednesday and subsequently decided to self-deport to Brazil.

Author: Zoe Harrison