Gunman Kills 4 In “Deadliest” NYC Shooting In 25 Years

This past Monday (July 28) the busy city streets of Manhattan were rocked to its core when a man carrying an AR-15-style rifle walked into a midtown skyscraper and opened fire on unsuspecting victims.

According to the New York Times, 27-year-old Shane Tamura walked into 345 Park Avenue around 6:28 p.m. and suddenly opened fire killing police officer Didarul Islam and a few others before making his way to the elevator and going to the 33rd floor where he continued his rampage and took another life. While police locked down the building in anticipation of more violence, Tamura ultimately took his life with a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest.

The New York Times reports:

Some workers fled the 44-story building onto the already harried streets of Midtown during rush hour, as others were trapped in their offices for at least two hours.

Ms. Tisch identified the gunman as Shane Devon Tamura, 27, of Las Vegas. He died in Rudin Management’s 33rd-floor offices, Ms. Tisch said. Mr. Tamura left Nevada and drove through Colorado on July 26, crossing New Jersey on Monday afternoon before entering New York City, Ms. Tisch said.

Law enforcement in Las Vegas had documented Mr. Tamura’s mental health history, and police officers in New York found medication as well as a revolver and ammunition in the vehicle he left on Park Avenue, Ms. Tisch said.

When it was all said and done, four people died at the hands of Tamura with a few others injured. Though no motive is known at the time, recent media reports indicate that Tamura had a note on his person asking that his brain be studied for CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), which leads many to believe that Tamura intended to walk into the NFL offices located in the same building he open fired in.

Law enforcement officials also tell TMZ that Tamura took a cross country trip to get to 345 Park Avenue saying “he was in Colorado on Saturday and drove through Nebraska and Iowa on Sunday before landing in New Jersey.” It’s obvious that the man had a purpose behind the tragic shooting.

Per TMZ:

Police found a loaded revolver, a rifle case, ammunition, magazines, a backpack and prescribed medication in his vehicle. No explosives were uncovered

The building at 325 Park Avenue is also home to global investment firm Blackstone, tax and audit firm KPMG and a Bank of America center.

Officer Islam is being hailed as a hero who “made the ultimate sacrifice” in the line of duty.

Monday’s shooting is considered the deadliest gun attack in New York City in the past 25 years.

This is just sad news all around. Prayers up for the families of those affected by the horrific shooting.