Editor’s Note: This article contains discussions of suicide. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, you can find resources in your area on the National Crisis Line website or by calling 988.
(NewsNation) — New York City shooting suspect Shane Tamura believed he was suffering from brain damage linked to concussions, according to a note found on his body.
Police identified Tamura based on identification found on his body after he died by suicide on Monday.
Four people were fatally shot at a midtown office building Monday evening, and multiple people were wounded. The suspect began shooting in the lobby of the building, which contained the offices of the National Football League and numerous financial firms.
The shooter was seen on surveillance video exiting a black BMW while carrying an M4 rifle. He began shooting immediately as he entered the lobby of the building.
Police say Tamura had note on body
Investigators believe Tamura was trying to reach the NFL offices but entered the wrong set of elevators and ended up in a different office.
An official motive has not been released, but investigators say Tamura, 27, had a history of mental illness and had a rambling note on his body.
Tamura had two mental health holds in 2022 and 2024, according to reports. Those holds allow someone to be detained for up to 72 hours and be taken to a hospital, where medical staff determine how long they need to be held.
The note reportedly said Tamura, of Nevada, had a grievance with the NFL and claimed he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy after playing high school football in California. The note also reportedly said that his brain should be studied after he died.
What is CTE?
CTE is a degenerative brain disease caused by trauma to the head and has been linked to full-contact sports, including football, boxing, rugby and hockey.
The disease can lead to cognitive problems, impulsive behavior, aggression, depression and suicidal thoughts. While CTE is linked to contact sports and concussions, not everyone who has a head injury will develop CTE.
One challenge of studying CTE is that the disease can only be definitively diagnosed after death, when the brain is examined for a buildup of tau proteins around blood vessels that can cause parts of the brain to atrophy.
CTE can develop early and has been found in teenagers. Those who have repeated head trauma are at higher risk of developing CTE. Because of the difficulty in diagnosing CTE, it’s not known how common it is.
CTE, football and violence
Tamura played high school football but did not go on to play college or professional football. In the note, he reportedly accused the NFL of being aware of the risks of CTE and covering up the danger in the name of profits.
The note also mentioned NFL player Terry Long, who died of suicide. Long is not the only player to have died that way. Dave Duerson and Junior Seau also died by suicide, deliberately using a method that would not damage their brain so it could be studied, something Tamura did as well.
CTE has also been linked to violence. NFL player Aaron Hernandez, who was found guilty of fatally shooting an acquaintance, was found to have severe CTE after his death.
