Investigators are trying into whether or not a Las Vegas man who went on a lethal taking pictures spree in Manhattan Monday was concentrating on the Nationwide Soccer League after it emerged that the gunman was a former Los Angeles highschool soccer participant with a documented psychological well being historical past.
New York Mayor Eric Adams stated Tuesday that the gunman, recognized by regulation enforcement officers as 27-year-old Shane Tamura, was making an attempt to focus on the N.F.L however took the unsuitable elevator.
Regulation enforcement officers have stated that the gunman marched right into a 44-story workplace tower on Park Avenue that’s the headquarters of the Nationwide Soccer League and funding agency Blackstone, at round 6:25 pm Monday carrying an M4 assault rifle in his proper hand. He instantly opened fireplace within the foyer, taking pictures first an NYPD officer, then a lady who took cowl behind a pillar and a safety guard behind the safety desk.
After spraying extra gunfire throughout the foyer, the gunman obtained into an elevator and went to the thirty third flooring, which homes the Rudin Administration actual property agency. He then walked across the flooring, firing extra rounds and taking pictures and killing one other individual, earlier than strolling down a hallway and fatally taking pictures himself within the chest. 4 individuals died within the assault together with Tamura.
“Mr. Tamura has a documented psychological well being historical past,” New York Metropolis Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated Monday evening at a information convention, citing Las Vegas regulation enforcement. “His motives are nonetheless underneath investigation, and we’re working to know why he focused this explicit location.”
Tamura, who was a celebrated varsity highschool participant at Golden Valley Excessive Faculty in Santa Clarita and Granada Hills Constitution within the San Fernando Valley, had a suicide be aware in his again pocket alleging that he suffered from CTE, a mind illness linked to go trauma, CNN reported, citing a supply with data of the investigation.
Within the brief three-page be aware, he appeared responsible soccer for his issues, referencing former Pittsburgh Steelers participant Terry Lengthy, who died by suicide after consuming antifreeze in 2005, and expressing grievances with the N.F.L..
“Terry Lengthy soccer gave me CTE and it precipitated me to drink a gallon of antifreeze,” the gunman allegedly wrote. “You possibly can’t go towards the NFL, they’ll squash you,” the be aware stated, in accordance with the supply.
“Examine my mind please I’m sorry Inform Rick I’m sorry for every thing,”
N.F.L. commissioner Roger Goodell reportedly stated an NFL worker was significantly injured within the assault. An individual with data of the state of affairs informed The Instances that many of the NFL staff had left by the point the shooter entered the constructing and that the constructing was cleared by police from the highest down, flooring by flooring.
Tamura performed soccer at Golden Valley Excessive Faculty within the Canyon Nation neighborhood of Santa Clarita for 3 years earlier than transferring to Granada Hills Constitution Faculty for his senior 12 months in 2015.
Dan Kelley, Golden Valley coach, stated solely that he remembered Tamura as “a great athlete.”
In his senior 12 months at Granada Hills, the 5-foot-7, 140-pound participant had 126 carries, 600 dashing yards and 5 touchdowns, in accordance with MaxPreps. He additionally received a number of “participant of the sport” awards.
A 2015 video that circulated on social media Monday evening confirmed Tamura as a highschool soccer participant celebrating a win for the Granada Hills Highlanders.
In a post-game interview after a 35-31 win over Kennedy Excessive, Tamura was hailed as a “stand-out working again” by a reporter from the Los Angeles Each day Information and requested how the crew got here by way of.
“We positively needed to keep disciplined,” Tamura stated, noting the crew was down 10-0 within the first quarter. “Our coach saved saying, ‘Don’t maintain your heads down. Don’t maintain your heads down.’ … We simply needed to keep disciplined and are available collectively as a crew.”
Tamura scored a number of touchdowns, the reporter famous, together with a pivotal one within the fourth quarter with underneath 4 minutes to go.
Tamuragraduated in 2016, MaxPreps stated.
The preliminary investigation signifies that Tamura had traveled from Las Vegas to New York, driving a black BMW cross nation by way of Colorado, Nebraska and New Jersey over the weekend.
Regulation enforcement stated that officers searched the car the gunman double parked on Park Avenue between 51st and 52nd streets and located a rifle case with rounds, a loaded revolver ammunition and magazines, a backpack and drugs prescribed to Tamura. No explosives have been inside.
The slain police officer, Didarul Islam, 36, had been on the job for 4 years, in accordance with Tisch. He was married with two younger sons and his spouse was pregnant with their third youngster.
The Related Press and Instances workers authors Eric Sondheimer and Sam Farmer contributed to this report.
