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Visiting Harvard Law professor arrested after allegedly firing pellet gun near Brookline synagogue
Temple Beth Zion leaders said there is “no reason to believe this was an antisemitic event,” despite occurring at the start of Yom Kippur.
A visiting Harvard Law School professor was arrested in Brookline last week after he allegedly fired a pellet rifle outside a Brookline synagogue where congregants were marking the start of Yom Kippur.
Carlos Portugal Gouvêa, 46, told Brookline police officers he was using the rifle to hunt rats in the area near Temple Beth Zion, according to an Oct. 1 arrest report.
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In an open letter, the synagogue’s leadership said that while the incident put Temple Beth Zion on lockdown during its Kol Nidre service, there is “no reason to believe this was an antisemitic event.”
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“From what we were initially told by police, the individual was unaware that he lived next to, and was shooting his BB gun next to, a synagogue or that it was a religious holiday,” Temple Beth Zion leaders wrote. “It was potentially dangerous to use a BB gun in such a populated spot, but it does not appear to have been fuelled [sic] by antisemitism.”
An attorney for Gouvêa, Vikas S. Dhar, also denied antisemitism as a factor.
“Professor Gouvea categorically denies that his actions were motivated by anti-semitism or by any intent to cause fear or disruption to the Temple Beth Zion community,” Dhar said in a statement. “What occurred was a total misunderstanding of an entirely innocent situation.”
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Dhar initially stated that Gouvêa is Jewish. However, he later clarified that Gouvêa is not Jewish but respects the Jewish community.
Gouvêa “holds Temple Beth Zion, its congregants, and the broader Jewish community in the highest regard,” Dhar added. “Any suggestion to the contrary is deeply distressing and wholly inconsistent with his personal identity, his values, and his long-standing record as an educator and community member.”
Gouvêa has pleaded not guilty to charges of vandalism, illegally discharging a BB gun or air rifle, disorderly conduct, and disturbing the peace, court records show. He was released on personal recognizance.
Brookline officers responded to Temple Beth Zion at 1566 Beacon St. shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday for a report of a person with a gun, according to the criminal complaint. A private security guard assigned to the synagogue told police he heard “at least two loud shots fired” and turned to find Gouvêa holding the pellet rifle and standing behind a tree.
A “brief physical struggle” ensued when the security guard attempted to detain Gouvêa, who allegedly “lunged towards the rifle” and then ran into his nearby apartment building. According to the police report, Gouvêa complied with officers who met him at his home.
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After Gouvêa informed the officers that he meant to hunt rats, “he was advised that it was unsafe to do so and to be aware of the alarm he had caused,” according to the report. Later, Brookline police noticed the front passenger window of a nearby parked car was shattered; inside, an officer found a metal pellet round purportedly fired by Gouvêa.
Gouvêa is an associate professor at the University of São Paulo Law School in Brazil and CEO of the Global Law Institute, a leading Brazilian think tank, according to his faculty page. He was scheduled to teach two courses this semester: “Sustainable Capitalism” and “Corruption and Inequality Seminar: Unraveling the Vicious Circle.”
Harvard Law has since placed Gouvêa on administrative leave “as the school seeks to learn more about this matter,” a spokesperson confirmed. Gouvêa is due back in court for a hearing Nov. 6.
Dhar said Gouvêa “looks forward to addressing the allegations in court and to continuing his contributions to the academic and civic communities he deeply values.”
In their statement, Temple Beth Zion leaders said the synagogue’s security protocols worked as planned last week.
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“A big thank you to our security officers for handling this well, the Brookline Police Department for responding quickly, and all of you who listened, stayed calm, and remained in the sanctuary throughout the incident,” temple leaders said. “We are grateful that no one was hurt.”
Read the full statement from Gouvêa’s attorney:
“On behalf of Professor Carlos Gouvea, I would like to address the recent reports regarding his arrest in Brookline. Professor Gouvea categorically denies that his actions were motivated by anti-semitism or by any intent to cause fear or disruption to the Temple Beth Zion community. What occurred was a total misunderstanding of an entirely innocent situation. He holds Temple Beth Zion, its congregants, and the broader Jewish community in the highest regard. Any suggestion to the contrary is deeply distressing and wholly inconsistent with his personal identity, his values, and his long-standing record as an educator and community member. We recognize that, given the current climate of heightened sensitivity and real concerns about anti-semitism worldwide, this incident understandably raised alarm. However, it is precisely because of that climate that we want to unequivocally emphasize that this was not an act of hate or bias. Early reports have unfortunately amplified misunderstanding and speculation, but we are confident that the facts, once fully examined in the appropriate forum, will make clear that this was an unfortunate and unintended situation that has been taken out of proportion. He looks forward to addressing the allegations in court and to continuing his contributions to the academic and civic communities he deeply values.”
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