A shooting at a Manhattan office building on March 15, 2024, left four people dead, including an off-duty police officer, after the gunman attempted to target the headquarters of the National Football League (NFL). New York Mayor Eric Adams confirmed that the shooter, identified as Shane Tamura, mistakenly took the wrong elevator in his attempt to reach the NFL offices.
The attack occurred around 18:30 local time at 345 Park Avenue, a skyscraper that houses not only the NFL but also major firms like Blackstone and KPMG. Tamura, a resident of Las Vegas, had a documented history of mental illness. Investigators discovered a note on his body expressing grievances against the NFL, which he blamed for his struggles with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition associated with repeated head trauma.
In a statement, Mayor Adams detailed how Tamura entered the building’s lobby and opened fire, killing Didarul Islam, a 36-year-old police officer who was working a security detail, along with three others. “He seemed to have blamed the NFL,” Adams told WPIX-TV, explaining how the shooter mistakenly approached the wrong elevator bank while trying to reach the NFL offices.
The police reported that the gunman first shot Islam, then targeted other individuals in the lobby. According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, surveillance footage captured Tamura exiting a double-parked BMW carrying an M4 rifle before he began shooting.
One of the victims, Wesley LePatner, a Yale graduate and real estate executive at Blackstone, was also killed during the attack. Blackstone released a statement expressing their devastation over LePatner’s death, stating she was “brilliant, passionate, warm, generous, and deeply respected within our firm and beyond.”
The shooting raises significant concerns about security in business environments, particularly in high-profile locations. This incident occurred just blocks from Grand Central Terminal and Rockefeller Center, an area known for its commercial activity.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged the seriousness of the attack, noting that an NFL employee sustained severe injuries and is currently hospitalized in stable condition. Goodell praised law enforcement for their swift response and honored Officer Islam’s sacrifice.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Mayor Adams emphasized the challenges faced by law enforcement in addressing gun violence, especially with individuals traveling from areas with more permissive gun laws. “We have to deal with those who come from areas with lax gun laws that allow individuals to have these high-powered weapons into cities like New York that have strong gun laws,” he said.
As investigations continue, the community mourns the loss of lives tragically cut short in an act of violence that has reverberated throughout the city and beyond.
