LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A state background test was incomplete when a Las Vegas man purchased the rifle he would then use to commit a mass capturing in New York Metropolis.
On Monday, Aug. 28, Shane Tamura, 27, killed 4 folks after which himself within the capturing inside a Manhattan workplace constructing that homes the Nationwide Soccer League (NFL). Tamura, who performed highschool soccer, claimed to have persistent traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and appeared responsible the league for his struggling.
In a suicide word, Tamura appeared to accuse the league of protecting up the illness’s risks, providing up his mind to check.
Las Vegas Metro police took Tamura into custody twice — as soon as in 2022 and as soon as in 2024 — underneath the state’s psychological well being disaster legislation, officers mentioned, for incidents involving threats of dying by suicide. Tamura acquired his concealed-carry allow in 2022. At no time did Tamura’s statements or actions lead a courtroom to remove his allow or weapon.
The gunman from Las Vegas who dedicated the mass capturing final week in New York Metropolis repeatedly threatened to hurt himself relationship again to the yr he acquired a allow to hold a hid weapon. (LVMPD/KLAS)
Tamura, who labored on the Horseshoe Las Vegas, purchased the rifle from his supervisor, that man’s legal professional mentioned, including that the switch occurred in October 2024 underneath the supervision of a gun retailer.
The Nevada Level of Contact Firearms Program ran two background checks on Tamura — as soon as in March 2022 and once more in October 2024, data mentioned. Each instances the checks got here again “unresolved,” which means this system “was unable to reach a deny or proceed decision,” a division official mentioned in a press release.
Beneath federal legislation, an “unresolved” response means the firearm may be transferred after three days on the discretion of the license holder, the official mentioned. This system will conduct analysis for 90 days in an try to achieve a “deny” or “proceed” determination.
In response to division information, about 2-3 p.c of all background checks return as “unresolved.” In October 2024, the month Tamura bought his rifle, 2.5% of background checks returned as “unresolved.”
This system can’t “disclose any mental health record information regardless of its absence or presence,” the official mentioned. A printout of Tamura’s background test solely confirmed his 2023 arrest for trespassing and no psychological well being incidents.
Nevada’s Purple Flag Legislation permits households and police to petition a courtroom to take weapons away from their family members in the event that they pose a hazard to themselves or others. In 2023, the state issued 20 high-risk safety orders. In 2024, the quantity rose to twenty-eight. The state had issued two orders in 2025, although it was unclear by way of what month. A consultant for the Nevada Legal professional Common’s Workplace didn’t instantly have that info obtainable.
Metro police didn’t launch Tamura’s concealed-carry allow utility or his precise allow following an 8 Information Now public data request.
In September 2023, Tamura refused to go away the Purple Rock On line casino Resort & Spa, resulting in his arrest, in keeping with paperwork the 8 Information Now Investigators first obtained. Tamura was playing and refused to point out identification after profitable cash.
When safety officers confronted him, Tamura continued to refuse to point out ID. At one level, a on line casino safety officer believed Tamura was trying to seize him. Whereas ready for police in a safety room, Tamura later supplied the workers along with his info.
Tamura later refused to go away the property, and Las Vegas Metro cops arrested him.
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