A shocking act of violence shattered the calm of Midtown Manhattan on Monday evening when a gunman opened fire inside a prestigious high-rise at 345 Park Avenue, leaving four people dead and another seriously injured.

The suspect, Shane Devon Tamura, a 27-year-old former casino security supervisor from Las Vegas, reportedly drove across the country to New York with a chilling plan and an AR-style rifle in his possession. According to NYPD officials, Tamura entered the building around 6:30 p.m., bypassed security, and began shooting in the lobby without warning.

Among the victims were NYPD officer Didarul Islam, Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner, building security guard Aland Etienne, and Julia Hyman, a new employee at Rudin Management. A fifth victim, a staff member of the NFL, remains hospitalized in stable condition.

After the attack, Tamura made his way to the 33rd floor, where he fatally turned the gun on himself inside an office suite. Authorities believe the floor was his intended destination all along, as it houses offices for Rudin and the NFL.

Investigators later discovered a handwritten note in Tamura’s possession. In it, he expressed belief that he was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain condition linked to repeated head trauma, often seen in professional athletes. He blamed the NFL for his condition and chillingly requested that his brain be studied after death.

Tamura had no prior criminal record but had been placed under psychiatric observation in Nevada on two occasions in the past three years. He legally acquired the firearm from a former boss, who also sold him the vehicle used to travel across state lines.

A now-viral photo captured by a building resident showed employees barricading doors with furniture and crouching in panic—a haunting image that has come to symbolize the fear and vulnerability many New Yorkers felt that evening.

A City on Edge

The shooting marks one of the deadliest single incidents of gun violence in New York City in over two decades. The tragedy has reignited debates around gun control, mental health, and workplace security, as well as the long-term risks of sports-related brain trauma.

Mayor Eric Adams, speaking the next morning, described the attack as a “devastating breach of safety in one of the city’s most secure commercial hubs.” He called for an urgent review of private building security protocols and the national firearm background check system.

What Comes Next

As the city mourns the loss of four lives, questions continue to mount. How did Tamura slip through the cracks of both law enforcement and mental health systems? Should sports organizations take greater responsibility for CTE awareness and treatment?

And perhaps most pressing: Could this have been prevented?

For now, Midtown Manhattan remains rattled. Flags fly at half-staff. A memorial is growing outside the 345 Park Avenue building. And the city’s heart beats a little heavier.