On the evening of July 28, 2025, a tragic mass shooting unfolded at 345 Park Avenue, a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper that houses the headquarters of the National Football League (NFL) among other prominent companies. The gunman, identified as 27-year-old Shane Devon Tamura, a security worker from Las Vegas, opened fire in the building’s lobby, killing four people and wounding a fifth before taking his own life on the 33rd floor.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams revealed that Tamura appeared to be targeting the NFL offices specifically but took the wrong elevator, ending up on a floor occupied by Rudin Management, where he continued his deadly rampage. Surveillance footage showed the gunman entering the building calmly, carrying an M4-style semiautomatic rifle, and even allowing a woman to exit the elevator safely, sparing her from harm. The shooting left a deep scar on the city and raised urgent questions about mental health, gun laws, and the long-term effects of brain injuries linked to contact sports.
Among the four victims were an off-duty New York City police officer, Didarul Islam, who was working a paid security detail at the time, a security guard named Aland Etienne, Wesley LePatner, a real estate executive at Blackstone, and a young employee of Rudin Management. Their deaths were caused by gunshot wounds to the torso, with one victim also suffering an additional wound to the left arm. The fifth victim, an NFL employee, was critically injured but stabilized following emergency treatment.
Police sources and city officials disclosed that Tamura carried with him a three-page handwritten note in which he repeatedly mentioned chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma, common among athletes in contact sports such as football. The note accused the NFL of concealing the dangers of brain injuries to maximize profits and pleaded for his brain to be studied posthumously for CTE. “Please study brain for CTE. I’m sorry,” the note read, also referencing former NFL player Terry Long, who was diagnosed with CTE and tragically took his own life in 2005.
Though Tamura played high school football in California about a decade ago, he never advanced to college or professional play and had no known direct connection to the NFL. It remains unclear whether he actually suffered from CTE, which can only be definitively diagnosed through post-mortem brain examination. The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed that his brain would be examined as part of the autopsy process, which is standard in such investigations.
Authorities also revealed that Tamura had a documented history of mental health issues, including two mental health crisis holds in Nevada in 2022 and 2024, which typically allow for short-term detention if a person is considered a danger to themselves or others. Despite these incidents, Tamura legally acquired firearms, including an M4-style semiautomatic rifle assembled from parts and a Colt Python .357 revolver, purchased with a Nevada concealed carry permit he had held since 2022. Additional ammunition and medication were found in his vehicle, alongside two cellphones. A tipster had reported his large ammunition purchases at a gun show in Las Vegas in June 2025, but no illegal activity was found at the time.
The investigation traced Tamura’s journey across multiple states, noting that he left Nevada on July 27 and arrived in New York City just hours before the shooting. Police are actively questioning associates connected to the purchase of gun parts used in the attack. The NYPD dispatched teams to Las Vegas to execute search warrants and gather further evidence.
The shooting has reignited debates on gun control and mental health care. New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a passionate call for a national assault weapons ban, emphasizing that while New York has some of the strongest gun laws in the country, lax regulations in neighboring states undermine these efforts. “The American people are tired of thoughts and prayers,” Hochul said, demanding Congress take action to prevent further tragedies.
President Donald Trump, who expressed condolences on social media, acknowledged the gravity of the incident and praised law enforcement for their swift response. “My heart is with the families of the four people who were killed, including the NYPD Officer, who made the ultimate sacrifice,” he wrote.
In the wake of the shooting, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell described the attack as “an unspeakable act of violence” and expressed gratitude to the officers who responded. He announced that the NFL offices would remain closed until at least August 8, with staff working remotely and increased security measures in place. Goodell confirmed that the injured employee was in stable condition and that all other employees were accounted for.
The tragedy has also brought renewed attention to CTE, a condition first identified among boxers and now known to affect many athletes exposed to repetitive brain trauma. Dr. Aaron Lord, chief of neurology at NYU Langone, explained that CTE can cause early dementia, memory loss, personality changes, and movement disorders similar to Parkinson’s disease. Its connection to suicide and behavioral changes is an area of ongoing research, though diagnosis remains challenging as definitive confirmation requires brain tissue examination after death.
Experts stress that while CTE is serious, it is not fully understood, and not everyone who experiences concussions develops the disease. Prevention through safety measures like helmets and seatbelts remains the best defense. Psychiatric medications can help manage symptoms, but no cure exists.
As the city mourns the loss of four lives and grapples with the implications of this shooting, a multifaith vigil was held, drawing leaders and community members together to honor the victims. Mayor Adams, visibly moved, recalled his own early days working in the same building and lamented the violence that shattered a place once associated with opportunity and progress.
The investigation continues as authorities seek to understand Tamura’s motives and mental state more fully. They are combing through his social media, personal effects, and associates to piece together how this devastating event unfolded. Meanwhile, the victims’ families and colleagues are left to navigate grief and the painful aftermath of a senseless act that has rocked New York City to its core.
