The shooter behind a deadly rampage inside an office building in Midtown Manhattan on Monday night was apparently focusing on NFL places of work there, New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams mentioned Tuesday morning.
Regulation enforcement sources say investigators recovered a three-page rambling word from gunman Shane Tamura’s pockets by which he referenced the mind illness CTE. In response to the sources, the word mentioned he needed to have his mind donated to science so it might studied for the illness.
“He did have a word on him. The word alluded to that he felt he had CTE, a identified mind damage for many who take part in contact sports activities. He appeared to have blamed the NFL for his damage,” Adams mentioned on “CBS Mornings.” “He talked about a Frontline documentary on the subject and former NFL [player] who suffered from the illness.”
CTE, or power traumatic encephalopathy, is brought on by repeated trauma to the pinnacle. It came into the spotlight in recent years as more high-profile cases have been confirmed.
Tamura by no means performed within the NFL, however articles from the Santa Clarita Valley Sign in 2014 present he performed highschool soccer in California.
The 27-year-old from the Las Vegas space, drove cross-country to New York in the days before the shooting, investigators mentioned. The 44-story constructing at 345 Park Ave. is house to places of work for the NFL, in addition to Blackstone, KPMG and others.
As soon as Tamura bought there, Adams mentioned, “He took the unsuitable elevator financial institution as much as the NFL headquarters. As a substitute, it took him to Rudin Administration, and that’s the place he carried out extra shootings and took the lives of extra workers.”
4 folks, together with NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, have been killed within the taking pictures, and one other particular person is hospitalized in vital situation. Blackstone confirmed one among its workers, Wesley LePatner, was among the victims.
“Phrases can not specific the devastation we really feel. Wesley was a beloved member of the Blackstone household and shall be sorely missed. She was good, passionate, heat, beneficiant, and deeply revered inside our agency and past. She embodied the most effective of Blackstone. Our prayers are together with her husband, youngsters and household. We’re additionally saddened by the lack of the opposite harmless victims as effectively, together with courageous safety personnel and NYPD,” the corporate mentioned in an announcement Tuesday.
Rudin Administration additionally launched an announcement confirming the dying of an worker, however didn’t launch that particular person’s identify. The 32BJ SEIU union mentioned a safety officer, recognized as Aland Etienne, was additionally killed within the assault.
President Trump posted on social media saying he was briefed on the taking pictures and that his coronary heart is with the victims’ households. FBI Director Kash Patel also posted, providing his prayers for the fallen officer.
Adams mentioned the NYPD is sending two groups to Las Vegas to execute a search warrant and examine the weapons recovered to this point. The mayor can also be set to attend a prayer vigil for the victims at 8 p.m. in Bryant Park.
In the meantime, bullet holes could possibly be seen within the home windows Tuesday, as investigators eliminated a number of baggage of proof from the constructing. Adams mentioned the high-rise has many safeguards, together with a button that may freeze the elevators, however the safety guard was shot earlier than he might activate it.
“If he was in a position to get to the button, he might have froze the elevator. However he was assassinated behind the counter as he tried to cover himself,” the mayor mentioned.
NFL tells NYC workers to earn a living from home following taking pictures
An NFL worker was critically wounded in Monday’s taking pictures and has been hospitalized in steady situation, in line with a message NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell despatched to company-wide.
Goodell told New York employees to work from home Tuesday whereas the constructing stays an energetic crime scene. He additionally mentioned there could be elevated safety and grief counselors accessible.
“We imagine that each one of our workers are in any other case secure and accounted for, and the constructing has almost been cleared,” the commissioner wrote. “We’re deeply grateful to the regulation enforcement officers who responded to this risk rapidly and decisively and to Officer Islam, who gave his life to guard others.”
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn opened Tuesday’s information convention from coaching camp by sending ideas and prayers to everybody affected.
What we find out about Shane Tamura in NYC taking pictures
Investigators mentioned Tamura drove from Las Vegas to New York Metropolis, the place he double-parked his black BMW outdoors the constructing on Park Avenue between 51st and 52nd streets.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch mentioned he exited the car carrying an M4 rifle and walked into the foyer, the place he opened hearth on Islam and two different victims, believed to be LePatner and Etienne, on the bottom flooring.
CBS Information New York
He then took the elevator to the thirty third flooring and shot one other sufferer earlier than taking pictures himself within the chest, Tisch mentioned. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
In response to regulation enforcement in Las Vegas, Tamura had a documented psychological well being historical past. Police mentioned prescription drugs have been present in his automobile, together with a rifle case with rounds, a loaded revolver and extra ammunition.
Tisch mentioned the gun used within the taking pictures, “was assembled by Mr. Tamura utilizing a decrease receiver bought by an affiliate. We have now situated that affiliate and others.”
Adams expressed frustration that the gunman was in a position to get a hid firearms allow.
“It simply makes our problem — what now we have carried out within the metropolis about eradicating unlawful weapons off the streets — now we have robust gun legal guidelines right here, however a lot of our neighboring states have lax gun legal guidelines,” he mentioned.
Below Nevada regulation, an individual could also be banned from proudly owning a gun if they’ve been declared mentally sick in court docket or dedicated to a psychological well being facility. CBS Information New York is working to verify the main points of Tamura’s psychological well being historical past.
contributed to this report.
