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Manhattan Shooter Cites NFL and CTE in Suicide Notes After Horrific Midtown Rampage

In a shocking act of violence that rocked New York City, Shane Tamura shot and killed four people in a Midtown office building before taking his own life. What sets this tragic act apart from others is that he left in his pocket a note printed in a rabid manifesto that accused the NFL of covering up the inherent risks of brain injury and included his request for permission to donate his brain for research on CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy).

The shooting took place at 345 Park Avenue (also the home of the NFL), and it has ignited conversations again regarding mental health, gun control, and the ramifications of playing contact sports. Authorities state that Tamura, who was a former high school football player, had no professional affiliation with the league but had identified anger towards the NFL.

The Shooting: A Case of Mistaken Identity?

Shane Tamura entered the building with an M4 rifle and immediately shot NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, a father of two with a third on the way, and then opened fire in the lobby in all directions before taking the elevator to the 33rd floor, which housed Rudin Management, not the NFL, as he had intended.  

  • "Shane Tamura took a staircase to the wrong elevator bank, so he went to the wrong company," Adams stated. "He appeared to be going after the NFL; there was a note that was written by him." Tamura shot and killed a second victim on the 33rd floor, then took his own life.

Tragedy in Midtown: Gunman Kills 3, Including Off-Duty NYPD Officer in Manhattan Shooting ( Source: Eyewitness.com)

The Note: A Call for Attention or a Hopeless Delusion? 

The three pages of written notes discovered on Tamura's remains were troubling and had three main assertions:    

  • Page 1: Accused the NFL of concealing brain injury risks for profit.     
  • Page 2: Blamed football for a degree of applied mental decline.    
  • Page 3: Asked, please, “study my brain. I’m sorry.”  

Despite the aforementioned claims, the investigators would eventually determine that there were no signs of any presence of a traumatic brain injury, and thus no indication of CTE, which can only be diagnosed after death. His former high school teammates described Tamura as a quiet, respectful player who exhibited no aggression or violence.

The Aftermath: Loss, Doubts, and Requests for Action

 Victims included:  

  • Officer Didarul Islam, an immigrant from Bangladesh, was described as a hero.
  • Wesley LePatner, an executive from Blackstone, and his mother.  

The NFL, while not connected to Tamura, has been scrutinized for its handling of player concussions. Commissioner Roger Goodell indicated that one employee was hurt and encouraged staff to work from home.  

Meanwhile, investigators piece together Tamura's cross-country trek from Nevada, where he had a substantial history of mental health holds and a concealed carry permit.

A Tragedy with No Quick Answers  

As the US continues to discuss CTE awareness and the need for gun reform, it is clear that there is a need for more than thoughts and prayers; this tragedy demands to be addressed. 

The shooting in Manhattan shines a light on mental illness, gun violence, and the residual impacts of sports-related brain trauma. We will likely continue to guess Tamura's motives, but the impact he has had on families and the loss that the city is experiencing remain stark.