LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The Las Vegas man who shot and killed 4 folks within the Manhattan workplace constructing that homes the NFL had low-stage CTE, the New York Metropolis Workplace of Chief Medical Examiner mentioned Friday.
On July 28, Shane Tamura, 27, entered the constructing at 345 Park Ave. The constructing homes the Nationwide Soccer League (NFL), which investigators suspect Tamura was concentrating on.
Investigators believed Tamura was making an attempt to get to the NFL workplaces after he shot a number of folks within the constructing’s foyer. The Related Press reported that the elevator he entered took him to a distinct ground, which housed the workplaces of the corporate that owned the constructing, Rudin Administration. There, he shot and killed one other particular person earlier than taking pictures himself.
Aland Etienne, Wesley LePatner, Julia Hyman, and NYPD Det. Didraul Islam had been all killed within the taking pictures.
The deadly self-inflicted shot to his chest could have been to protect his mind, based on a “rambling” observe discovered on Tamura’s physique, indicating he had a grievance with the NFL. Tamura claimed he had been affected by Continual Traumatic Encephalopathy, also called CTE.
CTE is a mind illness that’s widespread in athletes who play contact sports activities, comparable to soccer. It’s a degenerative illness occurring after repeated head accidents, inflicting cells within the mind to die.
On Friday, New York Metropolis officers revealed that Tamura had low-stage CTE.
“Following a thorough assessment and extensive analysis by our neuropathology experts, OCME has found unambiguous diagnostic evidence of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE, in the brain tissue of the decedent,” a press release from the examiner learn. “The findings correspond with the classification of low-stage CTE, according to current consensus criteria.”
“The science around this condition continues to evolve, and the physical and mental manifestations of CTE remain under study,” the assertion continued.
“We continue to grieve the senseless loss of lives, and our hearts remain with the victims’ families and our dedicated employees,” the NFL mentioned in a press release. “There is no justification for the horrific acts that took place.”
Within the observe present in his pocket, Tamura mentioned he wished his mind studied.
Police imagine Tamura drove from his residence in Las Vegas to New York, the place he carried out the taking pictures. Tamura’s BMW had a Nevada license plate, based on New York police, who additionally mentioned Tamura’s psychological well being points had been “well documented.”
Tamura labored within the surveillance division at Horsehoe Las Vegas. A co-worker legally bought Tamura the rifle he used for $1,400, the 8 Information Now Investigators reported.
A state background verify on Tamura when he bought the rifle was incomplete. 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, information 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.
