Who was Shane Tamura? The Midtown NYC gunman who killed NYPD officer and 4 others before dying by suicide

Panic erupted in Midtown Manhattan on Monday evening when a lone gunman stormed a high-rise office tower at 345 Park Avenue with an assault rifle during rush hour. At approximately 6:30 p.m., Shane Tamura entered the 44-floor skyscraper, home to major companies including the NFL and Blackstone, and immediately began firing. He shot and killed an NYPD officer in the lobby before moving to the upper levels of the building.



Emergency calls flooded in from the 32nd and 33rd floors as terrified workers sought shelter. Authorities later found Tamura’s lifeless body in a stairwell, dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. At least four civilians were also killed in the chaos, and several others were injured. The FBI is assisting the NYPD in the ongoing investigation.



Identified by law enforcement sources as the shooter, Shane Tamura was a 27-year-old man originally from Hawaii who later moved to Las Vegas. In his youth, he had gained local fame as a standout high school running back at Granada Hills Charter in California. He was described in interviews at the time as soft-spoken and focused, a far cry from the armed killer he would later become. And this was not the first incident, he has been a shooter from past nine years.



Tamura legally held a concealed carry permit in Nevada, and records show he once had a private investigator licence, now expired. He had no major criminal record and appeared to live a relatively low-profile life, until now.



While his motive remains unknown, investigators are now looking into whether Tamura had been suffering from an untreated mental health condition. There is no indication that he left behind a manifesto or note, but the methodical nature of the attack, combined with his suicide that has prompted serious questions.


A source close to the case said there were early signs that Tamura may have experienced psychological distress or delusions leading up to the incident. Authorities are combing through his phone, computer, and personal history in hopes of identifying any triggering events or red flags. Many users on X are speculating that Shane Tamura’s motive was rooted in personal failure, particularly not making it into the NFL. The fact that he targeted the Blackstone building, which houses the NFL headquarters, has fuelled this chilling theory.



As of Tuesday morning (IST), the crime scene at 345 Park Avenue remained active, with police continuing to gather evidence and review security footage. Tamura’s vehicle was located nearby and is also under investigation. Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul urged citizens to avoid the area and called for tighter scrutiny on firearms access, even for those without criminal records.


With at least five lives lost and many more traumatised, this marks the 254th mass shooting in the United States this year, a stark reminder of how easily tragedy can unfold in places meant to be safe.