Harvard Professor Arrested for Firing Pellet Gun Near Synagogue

On October 4, 2025, just a day before Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, a visiting professor at Harvard Law School found himself in legal trouble. Carlos Portugal Gouvea, 43, was arrested after allegedly firing a pellet rifle near Temple Beth Zion in Brookline, Massachusetts.

According to the police, Gouvea told officers he had been "hunting rats" when he fired two shots near the synagogue. Investigators do not believe the synagogue was the intended target, but Gouvea was still charged with a range of offenses, including illegally discharging a pellet gun, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, and malicious damage of personal property.

The incident prompted a large police response, with more than a dozen officers arriving at the scene. Two private security guards stationed outside the synagogue reportedly heard the shots and spotted Gouvea holding the pellet rifle. When they approached him, a brief physical struggle ensued before Gouvea allegedly set down the gun and fled to his nearby residence. He was later arrested and handcuffed.

In the aftermath, Harvard Law School has placed Gouvea, a Harvard Law alumnus who also serves as an associate professor at the University of Sao Paulo Law School, on administrative leave as the school investigates the matter. The university has not announced any additional disciplinary measures at this time.

Gouvea pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment on Thursday, October 5, 2025. He was released on personal recognizance and is scheduled to return to court in early November.