‘Was hunting rats’: Harvard Law professor placed on leave for firing pellet gun near synagogue

A visiting professor at Harvard Law School has been placed on administrative leave after allegedly firing a pellet rifle near a synagogue in Brookline, as reported by the New York Post.

Authorities arrested 43-year-old Carlos Portugal Gouvea on Wednesday night outside Temple Beth Zion on Beacon Street. According to Brookline.News, he told police he was “hunting rats.”

Investigators stated they do not believe the synagogue was the intended target. However, court records show that Gouvea was charged in Brookline District Court with unlawful discharge of a pellet gun, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, and malicious destruction of personal property.

According to police, the incident triggered a significant response involving over a dozen officers. Two private security guards stationed outside Temple Beth Zion reported hearing “two loud shots” and seeing a man with a pellet rifle.

When they approached him, Gouvea allegedly placed the weapon on the ground, but a “brief physical struggle” occurred as the guards attempted to detain him, according to Brookline.News.

Gouvea reportedly ran to his nearby home after the incident but came back out shortly after, when police arrested and handcuffed him. Officers later found a broken car window with a pellet inside the vehicle.

The Harvard Crimson was the first to report Gouvea’s suspension.

Gouvea graduated from Harvard Law School and earned his doctorate there in 2008. He is also a professor at the University of São Paulo Law School and leads a Brazilian think tank focused on social and environmental issues.

A spokesperson for Harvard Law School, Jeff Neal, told The New York Post that Gouvea “has been placed on administrative leave as the school seeks to learn more about this matter.”

The school has not shared any further disciplinary actions at this time.

According to the court docket, Gouvea was arraigned on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was released on personal recognisance and is expected to appear in court again in early November.

The incident comes as Harvard faces intense criticism over its handling of campus antisemitism. Jewish groups and federal officials have accused the university of failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students. In response, the Trump administration threatened to cut billions in federal funding. Harvard sued, calling the move “punitive and politically motivated,” though both sides now appear close to a settlement.