A quiet Monday evening in Midtown Manhattan was shattered when gunfire rang out inside a Park Avenue skyscraper, leaving four people d*ad and several others wounded.
Workers inside 345 Park Avenue, a tower that houses Blackstone Inc., KPMG, and the NFL’s headquarters, scrambled for safety as shots echoed through the lobby. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as employees barricaded doors and called loved ones while trying to understand what was happening.
Authorities identified the shooter as 27‑year‑old Shane Devon Tamura of Las Vegas, who pulled up in a black BMW, got out carrying an M4 rifle, and stormed the building. He fatally shot four people, including an off‑duty NYPD officer, before turning the gun on himself.
“Our hearts are heavy,” said Mayor Eric Adams, speaking at a press briefing.
“We lost four souls to another senseless act of gun violence, including a member of the New York City Police Department, Officer Islam.”
Officer Didarul Islam, a father of two with another child on the way, was remembered as a devoted husband, father, and protector of the city. The NYPD said he “represented the very best of our department” and praised him for “protecting New Yorkers from danger when his life was tragically cut short.”
Investigators quickly began piecing together Tamura’s background. A former high school football player, he later worked in casino security and held a legal concealed‑carry permit in Nevada. His vehicle, found nearby, contained additional weapons, ammunition, and medication.
But it was a discovery inside the building that gave investigators their first glimpse into why this rampage unfolded. A three‑page note was recovered at the scene, written by Tamura himself, and described by officials as a s*icide note.
In the note, Tamura expressed fears that he was suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition linked to repeated head injuries. He claimed his years playing football had damaged his brain and allegedly pleaded for his body to be studied after d*ath.
“Study my brain please,” one section reportedly read. “Tell Rick I’m sorry for everything.” He even referenced former NFL players who were diagnosed with CTE, writing that he believed the condition was behind his mental struggles.
Authorities are still investigating the case and whether Tamura’s choice of building. One that houses the NFL’s headquarters was deliberate. But the note suggests that his anger, fears, and deteriorating mental health collided in a violent act that has left New York City reeling.
Featured Image Credit: (Canva/New York Police Department)
