New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed on Tuesday that the gunman who opened fire in a Manhattan office building on Monday, resulting in four deaths, left behind a suicide note blaming the National Football League (NFL) and claiming to suffer from a degenerative brain disease.
Adams stated that the 27-year-old gunman, Shane Tamura, from Las Vegas, had a history of mental health issues. In a note found on his person, Tamura expressed suspicion of having chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease commonly associated with impact sports athletes and repeated head trauma. Adams said, “He clearly believed that the NFL caused his brain damage.”
According to Bloomberg, Tamura mentioned in his suicide note that he was unable to continue his football career due to brain injuries. Reuters reported that Tamura was not a professional NFL player but had played on a high school team.
The shooting took place at the Park Avenue skyscraper at 345 Park Avenue where the offices of Blackstone Inc. and the NFL headquarters are located. The police reported that Tamura had intended to attack the NFL headquarters but apparently took the wrong elevator, mistakenly entering the offices of Rudin Management on the 33rd floor where he shot and killed an employee.
Prior to that, in the building lobby, he had fatally shot a New York police officer, two men, and a woman, including Wesley LePatner, a senior female executive at Blackstone Inc. Another NFL employee was injured and hospitalized, but is currently in stable condition. There was also a woman who he spared and did not shoot.
According to the police, Tamura used an M4 semi-automatic rifle in the shooting, along with carrying a revolver, a large amount of ammunition, and a firearm permit. After the lobby incident, he took the elevator to the 33rd floor to continue the attack before eventually taking his own life on the supply level.
Tamura’s black BMW was found parked outside the building, containing drugs and related documents. The police indicated that Tamura acted alone, driving from Las Vegas to New York, suggesting premeditation in his actions.
NFL President Roger Goodell has issued an internal memo to all staff announcing enhanced security measures at headquarters. The police and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are still investigating the full details of the incident.