Shooter in NYC Tower Blames NFL for Brain Injury, Mayor Says

The Tragic Shooting in Midtown Manhattan

A tragic incident unfolded in Midtown Manhattan when a man, Shane Tamura, opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle in an office tower, killing four people. According to New York Mayor Eric Adams, Tamura carried a note that appeared to blame the National Football League (NFL) for his degenerative brain disease. This shooting marked the deadliest mass shooting in New York City in 25 years.

Background on the Shooter

Tamura, a 27-year-old from Las Vegas, had a history of mental illness. He killed two security officers and two office workers before taking his own life on the 33rd floor of the Park Avenue office tower. The NFL has its headquarters in the same building, but Tamura reportedly entered the wrong elevator bank, leading him to the offices of Rudin Management, a real estate company that owns the building. There, he killed one of their employees, as confirmed by the mayor.

The note found on Tamura suggested he believed he had Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a serious brain disease linked to repeated head injuries from contact sports. While CTE is commonly associated with football players, Tamura was never an NFL player. However, online records indicated he played football in high school and was a varsity player at a Los Angeles charter school until 2016.

The Impact on the Community

The shooting sent shockwaves through the community, especially among those who work in the area. Blackstone, a private equity firm with its headquarters in the tower, lost a senior executive named Wesley LePatner, who was among those killed. Several other Blackstone employees were injured and taken to the hospital. The skyscraper was closed to workers on Tuesday, as were some neighboring buildings, although much of Park Avenue remained active.

Zoe Fields, a 32-year-old associate director for a Boston investment firm, expressed her fear after visiting the area for meetings. “It’s just a really scary event,” she said.

This incident follows last year's murder of a UnitedHealth executive near the same location, which prosecutors say was targeted as a symbol of corporate greed.

Details of the Attack

According to police accounts, Tamura entered the building and immediately turned right, fatally shooting a New York Police Department officer, Didarul Islam, who had been on the force for three years. Islam, originally from Bangladesh, left behind two young sons. His cousin, Mizanul Haque, shared his grief, saying, “When I heard the news, it felt like the sky had fallen on me.”

Tamura then shot a security guard stationed at the lobby desk, identified as Aland Etienne, who was described as a dedicated officer. He also killed LePatner before taking the elevator to the Rudin offices.

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his condolences, stating, “My heart is with the families of the four people who were killed, including the NYPD Officer, who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

An NFL employee was also injured and was in stable condition at the hospital. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced plans for an increased security presence at the league's offices in the coming days.

Mental Health and Legal Background

Tamura appears to have traveled from Las Vegas to New York City over three days and acted alone, according to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Security video showed Tamura entering the tower wearing a blazer and carrying an M4 Carbine, a semi-automatic rifle popular among U.S. gun enthusiasts.

In Nevada, no permit is required to buy or carry a rifle openly, unlike in New York. A photo circulated showing a permit issued to Tamura allowing him to legally carry a concealed gun. He had previously worked as a security guard at a Las Vegas casino.

Records show that Tamura was detained twice under a “mental health crisis hold” in 2022 and 2024, requiring hospital evaluation. A loaded revolver was later recovered from the black BMW he left double-parked outside the office tower, along with a backpack and prescription medications.