NYC Gunman Bought Rifle from Casino Supervisor, Police Say

🔫 NYC Gunman Bought Rifle from Casino Supervisor, Police Say

July 30, 2025 | New York City & Las Vegas — Investigators revealed that the gunman behind the deadly Midtown Manhattan office building shooting purchased both the AR‑15‑style rifle used in the rampage and the vehicle he drove across the country from his supervisor at the Horseshoe Las Vegas casino AOL+1Yahoo News+1.

🚗 The Weapon and Vehicle Purchase

Police confirmed that Shane Tamura, 27, acquired the assembled rifle for $1,400 from his supervisor, identified only as “Rick,” and also bought a black BMW Bodied car used to travel from Las Vegas to New York The Times of India+15The Wall Street Journal+15New York Post+15. Initially, authorities thought the supervisor only sold parts, but later clarified the weapon was sold fully assembled AP News+3FOX6 News Milwaukee+3ESPN.com+3.

While private gun transactions are legal federally, Nevada law requires background checks for such transfers—prompting questions about the legality of this sale ESPN.com+2The Wall Street Journal+2Reuters+2. The supervisor is cooperating with law enforcement and has not been charged Yahoo News+3FOX6 News Milwaukee+3AOL+3.

🧠 Mental Health & Motive

• At his Las Vegas residence, officers discovered prescription medications for epilepsy and depression, along with a handwritten note expressing remorse toward his parents and claiming chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) People.com+10AP News+10The Wall Street Journal+10.

• In a separate suicide note found on his body, Tamura blamed the NFL for suppressing the dangers of CTE and requested his brain be examined post-mortem AP News+13Reuters+13The Times+13.

• Former teammates and coaches described him as a high school standout football player whose demeanor changed markedly in recent years New York Post.

🏢 The Attack & Victims

• On July 28 at 345 Park Avenue, Tamura opened fire in the lobby before mistakenly boarding an elevator to the 33rd floor, intending to target NFL headquarters but instead entering offices of Rudin Management New York Post+8The Times+8AP News+8.

• The shooting killed four people, including Officer Didarul Islam, a 36-year-old NYPD officer working security, and other victims such as security guard Aland Etienne and corporate employees ESPN.com+6Reuters+6westfaironline.com+6.

• An NFL staff member was critically injured but survived.

🔍 Ongoing Investigation

• The NYPD has dispatched a team to Las Vegas to gather evidence, review Tamura’s laptop, mobile devices, and work locker, and interview contacts including his parents ESPN.com+3Reuters+3westfaironline.com+3ESPN.com+4Reuters+4FOX6 News Milwaukee+4.

• Authorities are scrutinizing whether the firearm sale complied with Nevada's red flag laws and recent background-check mandates—though no charges have been filed against the supervisor so far The Wall Street Journal.

🧭 Broader Implications

1. Firearm Acquisition Pathways: The case highlights risks posed by private firearm sales, especially across state lines, and potential gaps in legal oversight The Wall Street JournalReuters.

2. Mental Health and Violence: Tamura’s history of psychiatric hospitalization and his claim of having CTE adds urgency to national dialogue around mental health, brain injury, and access to weapons ESPN.com+1AP News+1.

3. High-Profile Security Breach: The attack—a rare lethal shooting inside a secured Manhattan corporate building—has intensified scrutiny of office-building safety protocols and gun-control enforcement FOX6 News Milwaukee+1AP News+1.

Authorities state that Tamura purchased the weapon legally from a casino supervisor—a transaction now central to federal and state investigation. The supervisor’s cooperation notwithstanding, the incident raises serious questions about gun distribution, mental health safeguards, and regulatory enforcement. As probes progress in both New York and Las Vegas, the case is sparking renewed debate over legal loopholes that enable access to lethal weapons across jurisdictions.