Details Emerge About Shooter in Midtown Manhattan Office Attack

A 27-year-old man responsible for a deadly shooting in a Midtown Manhattan office building suffered from a sports concussion and severe mental health issues, according to authorities. His mother had previously called emergency services when he exhibited alarming behavior, including suicidal threats and mental health crises.

Shane Tamura claimed he had brain injuries related to contact sports, specifically CTE, and accused the NFL of concealing the dangers of repeated head trauma. Authorities found an apparent suicide note in his wallet, in which he referenced his injuries and expressed a desire to be studied post-mortem.

Tamura, who worked at a Las Vegas casino until recently, traveled to New York and stormed the office building last Monday evening. He reportedly targeted the NFL offices housed in the building, which also contain other corporate tenants.

During the rampage, Tamura entered the lobby wielding an M4 rifle. He shot and killed a police officer and a woman hiding behind a pillar before moving toward the elevator bank, where he shot and killed a security guard. A bystander was also injured. After letting a woman leave unharmed, he ascended to the 33rd floor, where he proceeded to fire on employees, killing another woman before taking his own life.

Shane Devon Tamura. — Tamura had a documented history of mental health problems.

Authorities highlighted Tamura’s troubled history, including mental illness, migraines, insomnia, and previous hospitalizations. In 2022, his mother urgently called 911 because he was threatening suicide and possessed a firearm, fearing he wanted to harm himself. She concealed her call from him as he became emotional and violent.

Police outside a building after the shooting. — Officers responded quickly, containing the scene within hours.

Tamura’s act of violence left multiple victims, including a police officer and a security guard. Before his death, he left a note indicating he wished his brain to be examined for CTE—a condition linked to repeated head trauma, which he believed contributed to his actions. Despite not having played professional football, Tamura participated in high school football in California, where he was a standout player.

His brain will be studied as part of his autopsy to better understand any link to his mental health and actions.