A witness recounted the harrowing moment she observed a blood-covered victim sprint from a New York City skyscraper, crying out for assistance after being shot by the gunman, Shane Tamura.
Four people were killed by the 27-year-old who drove from his home in Las Vegas, Nevada, and barged into the building with a rifle on Monday.
He stormed the offices located in Midtown Manhattan, home to prestigious companies like Blackstone and the NFL, around 6 pm, immediately shooting a New York City police officer upon his arrival.
The unhinged assailant continued his rampage, firing at other unsuspecting office workers in the lobby and elevator area before reaching the 33rd floor, where he ultimately took his own life.
What we know about the Manhattan shooting…
- On Monday evening, Shane Tamura, 27, barged into a New York City skyscraper and fatally shot four people before turning the gun on himself
- Victims of the horror shooting include a police officer expecting his third child and an investment company executive
- Mayor Eric Adams said that an apparent suicide note left by Tamura indicates he was targeting the NFL, which is headquartered in the building
- In the letter, Tamura claimed he was battling a brain condition that was caused by playing football
- An NFL employee was critically injured by Tamura but is expected to survive
- Mysteries continue to shroud the attack, including why Tamura spared a woman he passed in the elevator
According to Mayor Eric Adams, a suicide note found next to Tamura’s body suggested his motive was to target the NFL, holding them accountable for his health issues.
Tamura alleged that he had developed a brain condition from playing football and accused the league of concealing the sport’s risks for their financial gain.
As Tamura left his BMW on the street and entered the building, bystander Nekeisha Lewis was dining outdoors in the nearby plaza.
Lewis said that she and her friends heard shots and then watched in horror as a wall of glass on the first floor shattered, she told NBC News.
“I realized, ‘Oh my God this is a shootout,'” she said.
“It felt like I was in a warzone.”
The witness said she then saw a worker “frantically” sprint out of the building as he screamed a plea to the public outside.
“Help, help, I’ve been shot!” the man yelled, according to Lewis.
Lewis noticed that the man appeared to have a wound on his front and back and said that she and her partner helped to get his backpack off before they all ran to safety.
She called the victim “brave” and said that she hopes he made it home safely after the chaotic attack.
VICTIMS NAMED
One of the victims has been named as Didarul Islam – a 36-year-old New York cop who was working a second job as a security guard and expecting his third child when he was killed.
Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner also died in the horrific gunfire. She was a mom of two who was on multiple charity boards for New York City establishments.
The third victim was identified as 27-year-old property management associate Julia Hyman, who was on the 33rd floor, where her employer Rudin was located, when Tamura took the wrong elevator.
And the fourth victim was named security guard Aland Etienne. He was mourned as a “New York hero” by 32BJ SEIU labor union President Manny Pastreich.
An NFL employee was critically injured during the shooting, but league commissioner Roger Goodell said they’re expected to recover.
Timeline of NYC shooting
A gunman stormed 345 Park Avenue in Midtown, Manhattan, on Monday night killing four before turning the gun on himself.
Cops are now investigating why the suspect Shane Tamura carried out the brutal attack and have released a preliminary timeline and are tracing back through his movements.
July 26 – Tamura drives through Colorado in his black BMW
July 27 – Tamura drives through Nebraska and Iowa. He also doesn’t show up for work as a security guard at a Las Vegas casino
July 28, 6.28pm – Reports of the shooting are first made to NYPD. Tamura had moments earlier double parked his car and walked across a plaza into 345 Park Avenue
Once inside, Tamura shoots off-duty officer Didarul Islam working as security dead
He guns down a woman cowering behind a pillar as he sprays the lobby with bullets
Tamura walks towards the elevators where he shoots dead a security guard crouching at his desk
Gunman spares woman’s life after she walks out of elevator in front of him
He travels up to the 33rd floor to Rudin Properties’ office and fires as he walks the floor killing one
Tamura shoots himself in his chest ending his life and ending the rampage
7.52pm – NYC Police Commissioner Tisch posted on X: “the scene has been contained and the lone shooter has been neutralized.”
CTE CLAIMS
In a rambling handwritten note found near Tamura, the gunman fumed at the NFL over chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which has been found in some pro football players after they died by suicide.
The shooter blamed the league for his own mental health struggles and begged, “study by brain please” in the three-page letter.
He also referenced Terry Long – an NFL player who was suffering from the condition when he died after drinking a full gallon of antifreeze.
“Terry Long football gave me CTE and it caused me to drink a gallon of antifreeze,” read the disturbed writings.
