Harvard Professor Suspended After Firing Pellet Gun Near Synagogue on Yom Kippur Eve

Harvard Law School has suspended a visiting professor following an incident where he allegedly discharged a pellet rifle in proximity to a Massachusetts synagogue on the eve of Yom Kippur, the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar.

Carlos Portugal Gouvea, 43, was taken into custody Wednesday after authorities reported he fired two shots near Temple Beth Zion in Brookline. When questioned, Gouvea reportedly explained to officers that he was engaged in "hunting rats".

While investigators do not believe the synagogue was specifically targeted, Gouvea faces multiple charges in Brookline District Court including illegal discharge of a pellet gun, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, and malicious damage of personal property, according to court documentation.

The incident triggered a substantial police response involving more than a dozen officers. Private security personnel stationed at Temple Beth Zion reported hearing "two loud shots" and observed a man holding a pellet rifle. When they confronted him, Gouvea allegedly placed the weapon down, but a "brief physical struggle" occurred as they attempted to detain him, based on police reports cited by Brookline.News.

According to reports, Gouvea subsequently fled to his nearby residence before reemerging shortly afterward, at which point he was handcuffed and arrested. Law enforcement later discovered a damaged car window with a pellet embedded inside the vehicle.

The Harvard Crimson initially reported Gouvea's suspension.

Gouvea, an alumnus of Harvard Law School, received his doctorate from the institution in 2008. He additionally holds a position as an associate professor at the University of Sao Paulo Law School and directs a Brazilian think tank focused on social and environmental justice initiatives.

Jeff Neal, a spokesperson for Harvard Law School, informed The NY Post that Gouvea "has been placed on administrative leave as the school seeks to learn more about this matter." The institution has not yet announced any further disciplinary actions.

Gouvea attended his arraignment Thursday where he entered not guilty pleas to all charges, according to court records. He was released on personal recognizance and is scheduled for a court appearance in early November.

This incident occurs amid ongoing scrutiny regarding Harvard's management of campus antisemitism. Jewish organizations and federal officials have criticized the university for allegedly failing to adequately protect Jewish and Israeli students. The Trump administration threatened to withhold billions in federal funding unless the university implemented reforms; Harvard has filed a lawsuit characterizing the funding freezes as "punitive and politically motivated," though both parties may be approaching a settlement.