A man who opened fire in a Manhattan office building, resulting in four deaths before taking his own life, reportedly intended to target the National Football League (NFL) headquarters but mistakenly entered the wrong elevator, according to Mayor Eric Adams.
The shooter, identified as Shane Tamura from Las Vegas, allegedly aimed to reach the NFL offices after injuring multiple individuals in the building’s lobby. Among the victims were four people, including off-duty NYPD officer Didarul Islam. Tamura, who had a history of mental illness, left behind a note indicating a grudge against the NFL regarding chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) claims, despite never playing professionally.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed a league employee was seriously injured and expressed gratitude to law enforcement and Officer Islam for their response and sacrifice. The shooter’s note mentioned a desire for his brain to be studied for CTE, referencing a former player’s tragic experience with the condition.
The building, located on Park Avenue, houses various organizations, including the NFL, KPMG, and Blackstone. Blackstone mourned the loss of employee Wesley LePatner, praising her contributions to the firm. LePatner, a real estate executive with a background at Goldman Sachs, was among those killed in the tragic incident.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch revealed that the shooter, a security worker from Las Vegas, drove to New York shortly before the attack. Surveillance footage captured the shooter entering the building with an AR-15-style rifle, leading to multiple casualties before he took his own life.
The slain officer, Didarul Islam, a Bangladeshi immigrant and NYPD member for over three years, was honored for his heroism and sacrifice. Mayor Adams highlighted the difficulty of the investigation due to the shooter’s recent arrival in New York and emphasized the challenges posed by individuals bringing high-powered weapons across state lines.