Carlos Portugal Gouvêa, a visiting professor at Harvard Law School, was arrested last week after an incident involving a pellet gun outside Temple Beth Zion during Yom Kippur services. Gouvêa, who also serves as an associate professor at the University of São Paulo Law School and CEO of the Global Law Institute, faces charges of illegal discharge of a weapon, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, and malicious damage of personal property.

The incident occurred during the temple’s Kol Nidre service, a crucial observance that marks the beginning of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Temple security promptly reported a man with a gun to local authorities, leading to Gouvêa’s arrest. Although a nearby car sustained damage, believed to be from Gouvêa’s pellet gun, temple authorities confirmed that no one was injured. They also stated that they do not consider the act to be anti-Semitic.

In his statement to the police, Gouvêa claimed he used the pellet gun to hunt rats in the vicinity, an explanation that has added an unusual twist to the case. Following his arraignment, Gouvêa was released on his own recognizance.

In response to the arrest, Harvard Law School has placed Gouvêa on administrative leave, pending a thorough investigation into the incident. The school expressed its intent to fully understand the circumstances and implications of the event, given Gouvêa’s roles and responsibilities within the academic community.

Gouvêa, a Harvard Law alumnus (Class of 2008), is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on November 6th. His teaching responsibilities at Harvard included leading seminars on topics such as corruption, inequality, and sustainable capitalism, which are now on hold due to the ongoing legal process.

This case has stirred considerable attention, not only because of the nature of the incident but also due to Gouvêa’s prominent position in the academic and legal communities. As the legal proceedings continue, the academic community and public alike await further details to emerge, shedding light on the motivations and consequences of this unexpected act.