According to the mayor, the gunman in New York intended to target the NFL but mistakenly entered the wrong office

A gunman opened fire in a New York City skyscraper on Monday evening, resulting in the tragic death of four individuals. According to Mayor Eric Adams, the assailant left behind a note that seemingly blamed the National Football League (NFL) for a brain injury he had suffered.

Courtesy : CBS

The shooter, 27-year-old Shane Tamura from Las Vegas, took his own life after the rampage in a building housing NFL headquarters. He made an error by taking the wrong elevator, which led him to a different area of the building. In the note discovered by authorities, Tamura cited CTE, a degenerative brain condition linked to head injuries, as a cause of his mental distress. Reports indicate that he played football during his teenage years but never made it to the NFL, as stated by former teammates.

Among the victims was 36-year-old Didarul Islam, a New York City police officer serving as a security guard at the location. Another victim has been identified as Wesley LePatner, an employee of finance giant Blackstone. The attack also claimed the lives of two male civilians, while an NFL employee suffered serious injuries, as noted by league commissioner Roger Goodell in a message to staff. In response to the horrifying event, President Donald Trump, who is currently in Scotland, issued a statement expressing his condolences and trust in law enforcement to thoroughly investigate the motive behind this senseless act of violence.

In an interview with CBS, Eric Adams provided insight into Tamura's potential motives, revealing that he had a note in his possession. The note suggested that Tamura believed he was suffering from CTE, a serious brain condition often associated with repetitive head trauma experienced by athletes in contact sports. Adams indicated that it seemed Tamura held the NFL accountable for his condition. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, is a progressive brain disease that can occur after individuals sustain repeated head injuries. According to a senior official who spoke with ABC News, Tamura's note included a plea: "study my brain please," followed by an expression of regret with the words, "I'm sorry." 

Tamura was an American football player during high school in California, leaving former teammates in shock, as reported by NBC News. One classmate recalled him as a humorous individual, while a previous coach characterized him as a skilled and dedicated running back who had the makings of a great player. A gunman is believed to have traveled across the US from Las Vegas to New York, using an assault-style rifle in a shocking attack at 345 Park Avenue. After opening fire in the building's lobby, the suspect, identified as Tamura, reportedly took an elevator to the 33rd floor and continued firing.

Mayor Adams stated that an initial investigation indicates the shooter mistakenly targeted the offices of Rudin Management, which owns the building. Tragically, Tamura later turned the weapon on himself. The incident led to significant disruptions in parts of Midtown Manhattan and affected public transportation. A journalist noted numerous police vehicles and mentioned seeing at least one individual with severe injuries being transported on a stretcher. Witnesses described the distressing sounds of gunfire, and police advised those in the vicinity, including the BBC journalist, to seek shelter in nearby buildings.

Law enforcement conducted a meticulous, floor-by-floor search of the building, a process that unfolded over several hours. Nekeisha Lewis, who was having dinner with friends on the plaza when the gunfire erupted, said, "It felt like you were in a warzone almost," during an interview with NBC News. She recounted witnessing an injured man fleeing the building and labeled the experience as "literally the most scary situation I've ever been in." City officials honored Islam, who emigrated from Bangladesh to the United States and was a father of two, with a third child on the way. 

“He was fulfilling the duty we expected of him,” remarked New York Police Commissioner Jennifer Tisch. “He put himself in danger. He made the ultimate sacrifice.” Tisch added, “He died as he lived - a hero.” Members of Islam’s Bangladeshi community shared with the New York Times how he came to the US, initially working as a security guard at a school before becoming a police officer. They remembered him as an active member of his mosque, mentoring young men in the neighborhood. Wesley LePatner, an employee at Blackstone, was remembered by her company as “brilliant, passionate, warm, generous, and deeply respected both within our firm and in the wider community.” “She embodied the best of Blackstone.” Information regarding the other two victims and the NFL employee injured in the shooting has not yet been released.