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A Harvard Law School visiting professor has been placed on leave following an incident where he allegedly fired a pellet rifle outside a Brooklyn synagogue on the night before Yom Kippur.

Carlos Portugal Gouvea, 43, was detained after police reported hearing two gunshots near Temple Beth Zion on Beacon Street. He claimed he was “hunting rats,” but authorities do not believe the shots targeted the synagogue. Gouvea faced multiple charges, including illegal discharge of a pellet gun, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, and malicious property damage.

Harvard Law School confirmed Gouvea’s leave as the institution investigates the matter. The school has not yet announced any further disciplinary measures. Neither Gouvea nor his attorney has responded to requests for comment.

Police responded strongly to the incident, which occurred amid Jewish High Holy Days festivities. Private security at the synagogue confronted Gouvea after hearing gunshots and seeing him with a pellet rifle. He allegedly dropped the weapon and struggled briefly with security before running into his nearby residence. Officers later found a shattered car window with a pellet lodged inside, and Gouvea was arrested shortly afterward. He pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance, with a court appearance scheduled for early November.

The incident happened during a tense period for the Jewish community, which is observing the high holy days. Authorities indicated there was no evidence the synagogue was specifically targeted. Gouvea, an alumnus of Harvard Law School and a doctoral graduate from the university, also serves as an associate professor at the University of São Paulo Law School and leads a Brazilian think tank focused on social and environmental justice.

Regarding the broader context, recent violence targeting Jewish communities has occurred elsewhere, including an attack in Manchester where two men died and others were injured after a vehicle and stabbing assault. Several suspects linked to terror charges are under investigation, and an officer may have accidentally killed a victim during response efforts.

Harvard has been part of nationwide discussions about the institution’s role in addressing antisemitism on campuses. The federal government has threatened to withdraw funding from schools accused of failing to protect Jewish students, while Harvard is currently contesting such actions in court.

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