The gunman behind Monday’s mass shooting at a Midtown Manhattan office tower has been identified as 27-year-old Shane Tamura, a Hawaii native who later moved to Las Vegas. Tamura opened fire inside the 345 Park Avenue skyscraper, killing four people, including an NYPD officer, before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The attack triggered widespread panic in one of New York City’s busiest neighborhoods, home to global financial giants like Blackstone and the headquarters of the National Football League (NFL). Authorities responded swiftly, with police cordoning off East 52nd Street between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue as helicopters hovered overhead.
Who Was Shane Tamura?
Shane Tamura held a concealed firearms permit issued on June 14, 2022, valid for five years. He also possessed an expired private investigator license. Known to have played football for Granada Hills, Tamura had worked recently as a security guard at a Las Vegas casino, according to reports. A resurfaced video from 2015 shows him celebrating a sports victory with notable intensity.
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New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated during a press briefing that Tamura had a documented mental health history but no known criminal background. Authorities are still investigating his motive.
A Nevada-plated vehicle registered to Tamura was located near the crime scene. Inside the car, police found a rifle case, a loaded revolver, ammunition, magazines, a backpack, and medication prescribed to Tamura. The bomb squad cleared the vehicle of any explosives.
Records show the vehicle crossed the country, traveling through Colorado on July 26 and was last tracked in Columbia, New Jersey, at 4:24 PM Monday before entering New York City.
Timeline of the Park Avenue Shooting
According to Commissioner Tisch, Tamura entered the 44-story 345 Park Avenue building around 6:28 PM, armed with a Palmetto State Armory AR-15 assault rifle and wearing a bullet-resistant vest. He first shot NYPD officer Didarul Islam, then a woman hiding behind a pillar, followed by a security guard and another male victim in the lobby.
Tamura then took the elevator to the 33rd floor, home to Rudin Management, where he fired rounds indiscriminately. One person was killed on that floor before Tamura turned the gun on himself.
In total, five people were shot — four fatally, including Officer Islam and three civilians (two males and one female). One male remains in critical condition.
Commissioner Tisch confirmed: “At this time, the scene has been contained and the lone shooter has been neutralised.”
