A gunman who killed four people in a Manhattan skyscraper on Monday night was reportedly targeting the National Football League (NFL) over a brain injury he blamed on playing football, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has revealed.
The attacker, identified as 27-year-old Shane Tamura from Las Vegas, opened fire in the lobby of 345 Park Avenue — the same building that houses the NFL headquarters. However, Tamura mistakenly went to the wrong office after taking the wrong elevator, Adams said. He later turned the gun on himself.
“This was a senseless act of violence, and our city is grieving deeply,” the mayor said during a Tuesday morning press conference. “Tamura left behind a note blaming the NFL for his mental health struggles, which he believed were caused by CTE.”
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma, most commonly associated with contact sports like American football. While Tamura never played in the NFL, he was a high school football player in California. Former teammates described him as a dedicated, cheerful player with a promising future in the sport.
According to investigators, Tamura drove cross-country from Las Vegas to New York before launching the attack. He entered the building with an assault-style rifle and began firing in the lobby. Witnesses said the chaos was immediate.
“I heard what sounded like fireworks, then people started screaming and running,” said Nekeisha Lewis, who was eating outside the building at the time. “It felt like a warzone.”
Among the dead was New York City police officer Didarul Islam, 36, who was working as a building security guard. Islam, a Bangladeshi immigrant, was married with two children and a third on the way.
“He put himself in harm’s way,” said NYPD Commissioner Jennifer Tisch. “He died as he lived — a hero.”
Another victim was 41-year-old Wesley LePatner, a senior executive at financial firm Blackstone. The company described her as “brilliant, passionate, and deeply respected.”
Two other men were also killed in the shooting. Their identities have not been released. An NFL employee was critically injured during the attack and is receiving treatment in hospital. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed the injury in a message to staff, expressing “shock and sorrow” over the tragedy.
Officials say Tamura’s note referenced CTE multiple times and included the words “study my brain please” and “I’m sorry.” The document is now in the hands of federal investigators as part of a broader effort to understand the motive behind the attack.
Police believe Tamura intended to confront or harm NFL personnel, but accidentally entered Rudin Management’s office on the 33rd floor instead. The building was placed on lockdown for several hours as officers conducted a floor-by-floor sweep.
The incident brought midtown Manhattan to a standstill. Subway services were suspended, streets were blocked off, and heavily armed officers patrolled the area. Panic and confusion swept through the district.
President Donald Trump, speaking from Scotland, said he had been briefed on the incident and expressed condolences to the victims’ families.
“I trust our law enforcement to get to the bottom of why this crazed lunatic committed such a senseless act,” Trump said in a statement.
Community members have begun mourning the lives lost, especially Officer Islam. Friends from his mosque remembered him as a kind and committed mentor to local youth.
As the city processes this traumatic event, investigators are piecing together Tamura’s journey, mental health history, and how he obtained his weapon.
Mayor Adams concluded: “This tragedy touches many lives — families, coworkers, entire communities. We must come together to support the grieving and ensure this never happens again.”
