Gunman in NYC Office Shooting Tried to Target NFL Headquarters, Mayor Eric Adams Says

Gunman in NYC Office Shooting Tried to Target NFL Headquarters, Mayor Eric Adams Says

July 29, 2025 | Midtown Manhattan, NYC – Investigators working the deadly shooting at 345 Park Avenue have disclosed that the assailant appeared to specifically target employees at the NFL headquarters housed in the building, according to New York City’s mayor, Eric Adams. The gunman, later identified as 27-year-old Shane Devon Tamura, died by suicide after killing four people and injuring at least one other Reuters.

📌 What Happened

• The attack began around 6:30 p.m. on Monday in the lobby of the 44-story tower near East 52nd Street, with Tamura wielding an assault-style M4 rifle and wearing a bullet-resistant vest ABC7 New York+9NBC New York+9BostonGlobe.com+9.

• He opened fire immediately upon entering, fatally shooting Officer Didarul Islam, an off-duty NYPD officer on private detail, and a security guard, Aland Etienne People.com+11AP News+11The Sun+11.

• Tamura then boarded an elevator—believed to be the wrong bank—and went to the 33rd floor, where he killed an executive from Blackstone and an employee of Rudin Management before turning the gun on himself fox32chicago.com+15opb.org+15AP News+15.

🎯 Motive: Blame Over CTE and NFL

• A handwritten suicide note found on Tamura referenced chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disease linked to repeated head trauma. Tamura claimed he had suffered from CTE during his short stint playing high school football and blamed the NFL for concealing the risks Reuters+10Reuters+10Indiatimes+10.

• Tamura seemed intent on targeting NFL offices specifically, but mistakenly entered a different elevator bank. Mayor Adams said he “appeared to have gone to the wrong bank, and he ended up on the floor of Rudin Management” cbsnews.com+7The Guardian+7https://www.wwnytv.com+7.

💀 Victims & Personal Stories

• Officer Didarul Islam, 36, a Bangladeshi immigrant and father of two with a third child on the way, was hailed by city officials as a hero who gave his life protecting others Indiatimes+10People.com+10AP News+10.

• Aland Etienne, a 46-year-old security guard and father, died helping others hide as bullets flew. He is remembered as a devoted family man The Sun+3BostonGlobe.com+3New York Post+3.

• Wesley LePatner, a senior executive at Blackstone and Yale graduate, was among those killed. Blackstone released a statement mourning her loss as a respected leader and warm colleague People.com+4NBC New York+4AP News+4.

• Another victim was an employee of Rudin Management, who was also killed on the 33rd floor, though not publicly identified AP NewsReuters.

🧭 Law Enforcement Response & Ongoing Investigation

• The NYPD, with support from the FBI, responded swiftly and secured the building. Officials recovered multiple firearms, ammunition, and medication from Tamura’s car and person AP News+3AP News+3The Guardian+3.

• Federal and city investigators are piecing together Tamura’s background, travel route—from Las Vegas through several states—and possible motivations via social media and medical records NBC New Yorkopb.org.

🗣️ Official Reactions & Workplace Fallout

• NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell condemned the shooting as an “unspeakable act of violence,” confirmed that an NFL employee was seriously injured, and announced additional security measures and emotional support for staff cbsnews.com+3Business Insider+3NBC New York+3.

• Mayor Adams ordered city flags lowered in honor of the fallen and pledged full transparency as the probe continues AP NewsPeople.com.

Though the suspect never reached the NFL offices, Mayor Adams' remarks and the contents of the suicide note underscore that his intended target was the league. In total, four people were killed—including a police officer, a guard, and two corporate employees—and at least one is in critical condition The Guardian+1espn.com+1.

As city leaders, law enforcement, and the NFL move forward, scrutiny will focus on both preventing future tragedies and understanding the link between mental illness, potential CTE, and violent actions.