Did the Office Shooter Suffer from CTE? Brain Disease Extends Beyond the NFL

The Hidden Dangers of Contact Sports and the Rise of CTE

Shane Tamura, a 27-year-old who never played professional or college football, had a tragic end that brought attention to a serious issue in sports: chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Before he opened fire in a Manhattan office building on Monday, killing four people, Tamura left behind a note claiming he suffered from the same brain disease that affects many professional athletes. He targeted the building because it housed the headquarters of the National Football League (NFL), accusing the organization of hiding the risks of head trauma for profit.

Tamura’s actions were not isolated. He referenced a former NFL player who died by suicide after being diagnosed with CTE. His message suggested a deep-seated anger toward the league, claiming that it failed its players. While investigators are still trying to determine his exact motives, the incident has reignited discussions about the long-term effects of repeated head impacts in contact sports.

CTE is a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma, typically seen in athletes who have spent years playing high-impact sports like football. However, recent research indicates that young athletes can also develop the condition. The disease can only be confirmed after death, and while public awareness often focuses on professional athletes, experts warn that children and teenagers may be at risk too.

Young Athletes and the Risk of CTE

Wyatt Bramwell, who began playing football in third grade, took his own life at age 18 after battling mental health issues. In a video before his death, he asked his parents to have his brain examined for CTE. When the diagnosis was confirmed four years later, it revealed severe damage that shocked researchers. Bramwell’s case highlights how even young athletes can suffer from the long-term consequences of repeated head impacts.

A 2023 study by Boston University found that more than 40% of 152 contact-sport athletes under 30 had CTE. Some had only played high school or college football, and the youngest was just 17. This suggests that the disease is not limited to professional athletes but can affect anyone involved in contact sports from a young age.

The Role of Repeated Head Impacts

Chris Nowinski, co-founder of the Boston University CTE Center, emphasizes that the primary risk factor for CTE is the number of years spent in collision sports. “We published a study years ago showing that the average hit to a 9-year-old is just as hard as the average hit to a college football player,” he says. “If you hit a kid in the head a few thousand times during critical brain development, you can expect to change the course of their brain development.”

Nowinski, who once played football at Harvard and wrestled professionally, now leads research on sports-related head trauma. He explains that youth athletes can experience frequent head impacts beyond just concussions, and there is no direct correlation between the number of concussions and the likelihood of developing CTE. “But that is primarily because we don’t diagnose most concussions and people don’t remember most concussions,” he adds.

Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center, notes that for every 2.6 years of playing football, the risk of CTE doubles. She stresses that the real danger lies in the repeated hits to the head that don’t cause symptoms. “The concussions are the tip of the iceberg,” she says. “The real issue is the hits to the head that don’t cause symptoms, and that’s the majority of the hits.”

Misdiagnosis and Lack of Awareness

Behavioral changes associated with CTE are often mistaken for other mental health issues, as there is no reliable way to test for the disease. Many young athletes who report symptoms are dismissed or their concerns invalidated. Meiko Locksley, one of the 152 athletes diagnosed with CTE before the age of 30, never made it past college football. His father recalls how quickly his son's behavior changed, including hearing voices and experiencing confusion.

The 2023 study revealed that suicide was the most common cause of death among those diagnosed with CTE. This raises questions about whether earlier recognition of symptoms could have prevented some tragedies.

The Need for Change in Youth Sports

Despite concussion protocols in many high-school-football programs, there is little to prevent the accumulation of non-concussive head impacts. Alan Castillejos, a former quarterback from Permian High School, remembers a game where he was hit in the head and told to sniff a smelling salt to return to play. “I wanted people to see that I can knock somebody out,” he said. “I think football’s done a good job of taking some of that stuff out. But it doesn’t change the fact that what you are taught and told to do — and what you want to do — is just go blow somebody up.”

While the NFL has taken steps to reduce big hits, such as limiting tackling in practice and retiring the kickoff, these changes have not been adopted at the high-school level. “The NFL players have a union that fights for them, and so therefore they’ve pushed for these changes,” says Nowinski. However, he argues that CTE is primarily a pediatric-acquired disease, affecting children who are unaware of the risks.

A Call for Greater Protection

Experts agree that without measures to limit head impacts in youth sports, young athletes remain vulnerable. “We are not protecting them right now,” McKee said. “Unless we take action, they are not protected.” As the conversation around head trauma continues, the need for better education, stricter safety protocols, and early intervention becomes increasingly clear.