Shane Tamura, gunman in shooting at NFL headquarters, had CTE: Medical examiner

Shane Tamura, who drove cross-country from Las Vegas and opened fire at the New York headquarters of the NFL, killing four, had CTE, the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Friday, confirming what was in the shooter’s own writings.

Police found a three-page note in Tamura’s pocket claiming he had a traumatic brain injury and blaming the NFL for “concealing the dangers to players’ brains to maximize profits.”

Elsewhere, Tamura wrote, “Study my brain please. I’m sorry.”

Shane Devon Tamura, 27, identified by the NYPD as the Midtown Manhattan office building shooter.
Obtained by ABC News

Tamura died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“Following a thorough assessment and extensive analysis by our neuropathology experts, OCME has found unambiguous diagnostic evidence of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE, in the brain tissue of the decedent. The findings correspond with the classification of low-stage CTE, according to current consensus criteria,” the medical examiner’s office said.

“CTE may be found in the brains of decedents with a history of repeated exposure to head trauma. The science around this condition continues to evolve, and the physical and mental manifestations of CTE remain under study,” it continued.

The medical examiner’s office previously said Tamura died by suicide of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The pathologists do not say whether CTE played a role.

The NFL said in a statement, “We continue to grieve the senseless loss of lives, and our hearts remain with the victims’ families and our dedicated employees.”

“There is no justification for the horrific acts that took place,” the NFL statement continued. “As the medical examiner notes ‘the science around this condition continues to evolve, and the physical and mental manifestations of CTE remain under study.'”

Four people were killed in the shooting: Aland Etienne, a security guard for the building; Wesley LePatner, an executive at Blackstone who was a wife and mom; Didarul Islam, a police officer who was a dad of two; and Julia Hyman, a young employee at Rudin Management. All except for Hyman were killed in the building’s lobby.

All of the victims in the lobby were shot in less than 30 seconds.

Tamura then moved to the elevator bank, inexplicably allowing a woman to pass unharmed, police said. Detectives believe he went looking for the NFL offices but entered the wrong elevator.

He ended up on the 33rd floor about 6:28 p.m.

In that time, office cleaner Sebije Nelovic said Tamura fired at her but missed. Nelovic said in a statement sent by her union that she ran down the hall, hid in a closet and “started praying.”

She said she heard shouting, then footsteps, as the gunman moved toward the closet where she was hiding.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ABC News Live (@abcnewslive)

Shane Tamura, who drove cross-country from Las Vegas and opened fire at the New York headquarters of the NFL, killing four, had CTE, the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Friday, confirming what was in the shooter’s own writings.

Police found a three-page note in Tamura’s pocket claiming he had a traumatic brain injury and blaming the NFL for “concealing the dangers to players’ brains to maximize profits.”

Elsewhere, Tamura wrote, “Study my brain please. I’m sorry.”

Shane Devon Tamura, 27, identified by the NYPD as the Midtown Manhattan office building shooter.
Obtained by ABC News

Tamura died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“Following a thorough assessment and extensive analysis by our neuropathology experts, OCME has found unambiguous diagnostic evidence of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE, in the brain tissue of the decedent. The findings correspond with the classification of low-stage CTE, according to current consensus criteria,” the medical examiner’s office said.

“CTE may be found in the brains of decedents with a history of repeated exposure to head trauma. The science around this condition continues to evolve, and the physical and mental manifestations of CTE remain under study,” it continued.

The medical examiner’s office previously said Tamura died by suicide of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The pathologists do not say whether CTE played a role.

The NFL said in a statement, “We continue to grieve the senseless loss of lives, and our hearts remain with the victims’ families and our dedicated employees.”

“There is no justification for the horrific acts that took place,” the NFL statement continued. “As the medical examiner notes ‘the science around this condition continues to evolve, and the physical and mental manifestations of CTE remain under study.'”

Four people were killed in the shooting: Aland Etienne, a security guard for the building; Wesley LePatner, an executive at Blackstone who was a wife and mom; Didarul Islam, a police officer who was a dad of two; and Julia Hyman, a young employee at Rudin Management. All except for Hyman were killed in the building’s lobby.

All of the victims in the lobby were shot in less than 30 seconds.

Tamura then moved to the elevator bank, inexplicably allowing a woman to pass unharmed, police said. Detectives believe he went looking for the NFL offices but entered the wrong elevator.

He ended up on the 33rd floor about 6:28 p.m.

In that time, office cleaner Sebije Nelovic said Tamura fired at her but missed. Nelovic said in a statement sent by her union that she ran down the hall, hid in a closet and “started praying.”

She said she heard shouting, then footsteps, as the gunman moved toward the closet where she was hiding.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ABC News Live (@abcnewslive)

More from author

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related posts

Latest posts

Bridgerton’s Francesca and Michaela to Lead Season 5 with Series’ First Queer Love Story

Bridgerton season 5 is now in production with two women taking the lead. The forthcoming season of the Netflix romantic drama will spotlight Hannah Dodd's Francesca and Masali...

Beloved NHL Reporter Jessi Pierce and Her 3 Kids Die in Minnesota House Fire

Jessi Pierce, a beloved NHL reporter, and her three children died in a house fire in Minnesota. On Saturday, March 21, firefighters responded to a...

Alice Cooper and Wife Sheryl Renew Their Wedding Vows to Celebrate 50 Years of Marriage

Alice Cooper and his wife, Sheryl Cooper, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by saying "I do" all over again. The rock musician, 78, and the dancer and...

Chuck Norris made heartbreaking final post before he died aged 86

Chuck Norris shared a sprightly video to Instagram just days before it was announced that he has died at the age of 86. Norris' family...

Legendary actor Chuck Norris has died aged 86

Martial artist, actor, and cultural icon Chuck Norris has died at the age of 86, with his family paying a heartbreaking tribute to the...

Judge Orders Deportation of 5-Year-Old Minneapolis Boy Liam Ramos and His Family

A judge has ended the asylum claims of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, whose detention became a symbol of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minnesota, and his...

Want to stay up to date with the latest news?

We would love to hear from you! Please fill in your details and we will stay in touch. It's that simple!