New York mass shooter blamed NFL for his brain injuries
The revelation that the killer, identified as 27-year-old Shane Tamura, left a note referencing the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) provided the first possible motive for the shootings late on Monday that brought central Manhattan to a standstill.
The attacker shot a police officer outside the tower on Park Avenue, then opened fire in the lobby before attempting to reach the National Football League's offices, armed with a semi-automatic rifle.
The suicide note stated "that he felt he had CTE, a known brain injury among those who participate in contact sports. He appeared to have blamed the NFL for his injury," Adams told CBS News.
Adams said Tamura had never actually played for the top professional league. However, he was reportedly a star player at high school level in California.
The note also requested that his brain be preserved for examination for CTE damage, The New York Times reported.
The bloodshed triggered a massive police response in the densely populated city centre – not far from where a man with a grievance against UnitedHealthcare fatally shot the medical insurance company's CEO in broad daylight last December.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told a press conference that Tamura had a history of mental health issues.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday called the mass shooting a "senseless act of violence" carried out by a "lunatic."
New details emerged on Tuesday about the gunman's deadly attack and final journey.
Authorities said he had driven across the country from Nevada, stopping outside the skyscraper in a black BMW, carrying a rifle.
He shot a police officer immediately, then began "spraying the lobby" with bullets, Tisch said.
A female bystander and a security guard were hit, Adams said, explaining that this prevented anyone from hitting the panic button that would have disabled the lifts.
As the guard "attempted to hide behind the counter, he was killed as well, and the suspect then took the lift upstairs," Adams said.
"If he had reached the button, he could have frozen the lift."
One of those shot was an NFL employee, who was "seriously injured" but in a stable condition in hospital, league commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement to staff.
While Tamura's intended target was the NFL offices, he "took the wrong lift," Adams said, ending up on the 33rd floor, which houses the building's management offices. There, he shot one person dead before fatally shooting himself in the chest.
Adams said the fallen police officer was a 36-year-old immigrant from Bangladesh.
Office worker Shad Sakib told AFP that he was packing up to leave work when a public address announcement instructed staff to shelter in place. "Everyone was confused," he said.
There have been 254 mass shootings in the US this year, including Monday's incident in New York, according to the Gun Violence Archive — which defines a mass shooting as four or more people shot.
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The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
NYC shooter blamed NFL for CTE brain disease in deadly rampage
NEW YORK: The gunman who killed four people in a Manhattan skyscraper carried a note blaming the National Football League (NFL) for a degenerative brain disease he claimed to have, Mayor Eric Adams said. The shooter, identified as Shane Tamura, 27, opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle before taking his own life. Tamura, a former high school football player from Las Vegas, had a history of mental illness. His rampage left two security officers and two office workers dead in the Park Avenue building, which houses NFL headquarters and financial firms. 'The note suggested he believed he had CTE, a brain injury linked to contact sports,' Adams told CBS News. 'He appeared to blame the NFL, despite never playing professionally.' Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a severe brain condition tied to repeated head trauma, often found in athletes. The NFL has faced scrutiny over player safety, paying over $1 billion in concussion-related settlements. Tamura's note reportedly criticized the league for not doing enough to address CTE risks. Among the victims was Wesley LePatner, a Blackstone executive, and NYPD officer Didarul Islam, who was part of the building's security detail. Islam, a father of two, had recently spoken with family before the attack. Tamura drove from Las Vegas to New York before the shooting. Security footage showed him entering the building with an M4 Carbine rifle. Nevada law allows open carry of such firearms without a permit, unlike New York. Police confirmed Tamura had been detained twice under mental health crisis holds in 2022 and 2024. He had worked as a casino security guard in Las Vegas. The NFL increased security at its offices following the attack. Commissioner Roger Goodell assured staff of enhanced safety measures. - Reuters
The Star
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- The Star
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New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
New York mass shooter blamed NFL for his brain injuries
NEW YORK: A man who killed four people and then took his own life in a New York skyscraper may have been targeting the NFL offices there because he blamed the American football league for brain injuries he believed he had suffered, Mayor Eric Adams said on Tuesday. The revelation that the killer, identified as 27-year-old Shane Tamura, left a note referencing the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) provided the first possible motive for the shootings late on Monday that brought central Manhattan to a standstill. The attacker shot a police officer outside the tower on Park Avenue, then opened fire in the lobby before attempting to reach the National Football League's offices, armed with a semi-automatic rifle. The suicide note stated "that he felt he had CTE, a known brain injury among those who participate in contact sports. He appeared to have blamed the NFL for his injury," Adams told CBS News. Adams said Tamura had never actually played for the top professional league. However, he was reportedly a star player at high school level in California. The note also requested that his brain be preserved for examination for CTE damage, The New York Times reported. The bloodshed triggered a massive police response in the densely populated city centre – not far from where a man with a grievance against UnitedHealthcare fatally shot the medical insurance company's CEO in broad daylight last December. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told a press conference that Tamura had a history of mental health issues. President Donald Trump on Tuesday called the mass shooting a "senseless act of violence" carried out by a "lunatic." New details emerged on Tuesday about the gunman's deadly attack and final journey. Authorities said he had driven across the country from Nevada, stopping outside the skyscraper in a black BMW, carrying a rifle. He shot a police officer immediately, then began "spraying the lobby" with bullets, Tisch said. A female bystander and a security guard were hit, Adams said, explaining that this prevented anyone from hitting the panic button that would have disabled the lifts. As the guard "attempted to hide behind the counter, he was killed as well, and the suspect then took the lift upstairs," Adams said. "If he had reached the button, he could have frozen the lift." One of those shot was an NFL employee, who was "seriously injured" but in a stable condition in hospital, league commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement to staff. While Tamura's intended target was the NFL offices, he "took the wrong lift," Adams said, ending up on the 33rd floor, which houses the building's management offices. There, he shot one person dead before fatally shooting himself in the chest. Adams said the fallen police officer was a 36-year-old immigrant from Bangladesh. Office worker Shad Sakib told AFP that he was packing up to leave work when a public address announcement instructed staff to shelter in place. "Everyone was confused," he said. There have been 254 mass shootings in the US this year, including Monday's incident in New York, according to the Gun Violence Archive — which defines a mass shooting as four or more people shot.
