In a shooting in midtown Manhattan on Monday evening, a 27-year-old gunman, Shane Tamura from Las Vegas, opened fire inside a skyscraper, housing the headquarters of the National Football League (NFL). He killed four people and injured several others before turning the weapon on himself. One of the deceased was a New York City police officer working security, and another was an employee of financial giant Blackstone, according to BBC.
According to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Tamura left a handwritten note blaming the NFL for his mental health. The note indicated that he believed he was suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a known brain disease associated with contact sports, Addams said in his interview with CBS.
Tamura had no history of professional football. Former high school teammates told NBC News that he played as a teen in California but not in college or professional leagues.
Tamura reportedly drove from Las Vegas to New York. He entered the lobby of the skyscraper, initially targeting the building. BBC reported that he mistakenly took an elevator to the 33rd floor, which was home to Rudin Management, and not the NFL’s offices, which was on a different floor.
He continued firing before taking his own life.
The attack caused panic in Midtown Manhattan. A BBC journalist on the scene observed one victim with a gunshot wound being rushed out on a stretcher. The Police worked for hours clearing the building.
Among the dead was Didarul Islam, a 36-year-old NYPD officer assigned to security detail at the building, as reported by BBC. Two additional male civilians were killed, and an NFL staff member had serious injuries.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell issued a statement confirming the injury and expressing sorrow over the tragedy, reported BBC.
The FBI and New York Police Department are continuing their investigation. The rifle used in the attack is being traced for origin and legality.
The Transportation Safety Board has confirmed that Tamura had no known aviation or firearms license, increasing scrutiny on how he acquired the weapon.
Mayor Adams called the shooting a tragedy that shows the dual crises of mental health and gun violence in America.
