A man drove across the country to a Manhattan office tower—triggered a mass shooting he intended to attack the NFL headquarters but entered the wrong elevator—resulting in multiple deaths and triggering grief across New York City.
At a Glance
- On July 28, 2025 at 6:28 p.m., 27-year-old Shane Devon Tamura opened fire at 345 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, the building housing the NFL and Blackstone
- He was armed with an M4/AR-15 type rifle and began shooting in the lobby, killing four people, including NYPD officer Didarul Islam
- The shooter had intended to strike the NFL offices on floors 5–8 but mistakenly used the wrong elevator bank, ending up on the 33rd floor in Rudin Management offices, where he killed another before committing suicide
- Tamura left a three-page note alleging he suffered from CTE, blamed the NFL for concealment, and asked for post-mortem study of his brain
- Mayor Eric Adams and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called it an “unspeakable act of violence” and pledged increased security in the days ahead
Prelude and Rampage
Tamura, who lived in Las Vegas and once played high school football in California, drove across multiple states before arriving in Manhattan on July 28, 2025. He exited a double-parked BMW around 6:28 p.m. armed with a rifle and body armor. Surveillance footage shows him entering the lobby and immediately opening fire, killing Officer Didarul Islam, a Blackstone executive, a security guard, and another bystander. Several others were injured in the chaos.
Watch a report: Employees Barricade Doors Amid Midtown Shooting · YouTube
Despite entering the building with NFL headquarters as a target, Tamura mistakenly rode the wrong elevator to the 33rd floor, where he entered Rudin Management offices and shot another individual before turning the gun on himself. His remains were found shortly after 7:15 p.m.
Aftermath, Motive & Fallout
In his note, Tamura claimed CTE based on his high school football history and accused the NFL of prioritizing profit over player safety. He requested his brain be studied after death. There is no confirmed medical evidence he suffered from CTE or experienced significant head trauma. Authorities have not found any formal connection to the NFL beyond Tamura’s stated grievance.
New York officials, including Governor Kathy Hochul, renewed calls for a national assault weapons ban. Flags across the city were ordered lowered to half-staff in tribute to the victims, including Officer Islam, who is survived by a pregnant wife and two children. NFL leadership confirmed one league employee was seriously injured but stable and promised a heightened security presence at their offices.
Implications and Reflection
This tragedy underscores growing fears around active shooter incidents in high-profile workplaces and reopens debate on mental health, gun access, and sports-related brain injury links. The fact that Tamura misread elevator banks adds a chilling uncertainty—had he reached the NFL offices, the casualty count might have been far greater. Officials note the city was experiencing a rare downturn in gun violence before this event, making it a jarring break from recent trends.
