Crime
Midtown Manhattan Mass Shooting Suspect Identified as 27-year-old Shane Tamura
NEW YORK, NY — Authorities have identified the gunman behind Monday evening’s deadly mass shooting at a Midtown Manhattan office building as 27-year-old Shane Tamura, a Las Vegas resident with a documented history of mental illness.
Tamura opened fire inside the high-rise at 345 Park Avenue shortly before 6:30 p.m., killing four people — including a New York police officer — and injuring several others before taking his own life, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
According to officials, Tamura drove a black BMW with Nevada plates across several states before arriving in New York City just hours before the attack.
He had reportedly failed to show up to his job as a security guard at a Las Vegas casino the day prior.
Surveillance footage shows the vehicle passing through Colorado on July 26, then Nebraska and Iowa on July 27, and finally entering Columbia, New Jersey at approximately 4:24 p.m. on July 28. He was in Manhattan shortly thereafter.
At approximately 6:28 p.m., 911 calls began reporting gunfire at 345 Park Avenue, a prominent 44-story building home to major tenants including the NFL headquarters, Blackstone, and Rudin Management.
Tamura was captured on surveillance footage exiting his double-parked BMW between East 51st and 52nd Streets, visibly carrying an M4-style rifle.
Upon entering the building lobby, he turned right and immediately opened fire.
- His first victim was NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, 36, who was fatally shot near the entrance.
- He then shot and killed a woman who had been attempting to hide behind a pillar.
- A third victim, a security guard positioned at a lobby desk, was also fatally shot.
- One additional person in the lobby sustained a gunshot wound and was transported to a hospital in critical but stable condition.
Tamura was seen allowing a woman to exit an elevator unharmed before he proceeded to the 33rd floor, where offices of Rudin Properties are located.
Once there, he fired at random as he walked through the corridors, fatally shooting a fourth victim, a man inside the office space.
He then walked down a hallway and died by suicide, shooting himself in the chest.
The chaotic incident triggered panic throughout the building, which houses several high-profile corporate offices. Responding officers and emergency personnel quickly secured the scene.
At 7:52 p.m., Commissioner Tisch confirmed via social media that the shooter had been neutralized and the situation was contained.
Authorities recovered multiple weapons and supplies from Tamura’s vehicle, including:
- A rifle case
- A loaded revolver
- Ammunition and magazines
- A backpack
- Medication prescribed to him
Photos obtained by the media show that Tamura used a Palmetto State Armory AR-15 rifle, chambered in .223 caliber, equipped with a scope, a tactical handguard, and a shoulder sling. Bloodstains were visible on the weapon.
He was also found to have a valid concealed carry permit issued in Las Vegas, expiring in 2027.
Tamura’s motive remains unclear, and investigators have yet to determine any specific connection between him and the victims or the location. “We are working to understand why he targeted this particular building,” Commissioner Tisch said during a press conference. She emphasized that Tamura appeared to have acted alone.
Las Vegas law enforcement confirmed Tamura had a documented mental health history. While no prior criminal record was immediately disclosed, officials stated they are working with authorities across multiple states to piece together his background and the circumstances that led to the attack.
In his earlier life, Tamura was a standout high school athlete, having played as a running back at Granada Hills Charter High School in California. In a resurfaced post-game interview, he came across as quiet and soft-spoken while reflecting on touchdowns he scored during a high school game — a stark contrast to the violent acts he would later commit.
Monday’s mass shooting marks one of the deadliest attacks in Midtown Manhattan in recent memory.
As the investigation continues, city officials, corporate tenants, and the broader community are left grieving the lives lost and searching for answers about what led to this senseless act of violence.
Anyone with additional information about Shane Tamura or his actions leading up to the shooting is urged to contact the NYPD’s tip line at 1-800-577-TIPS.
CHICAGO, IL — A man was found shot to death Friday night on Chicago’s South Side, prompting a homicide investigation by Area One detectives, according to the Chicago Police Department.
Officers responded to reports of gunfire in the 900 block of West 63rd Parkway in the Englewood neighborhood at approximately 10:00 p.m.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a 36-year-old male victim suffering from gunshot wounds to the head and neck.
Emergency medical personnel were called to the scene, but the victim was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified him as Emerald Pretty, age 36.
According to preliminary information, a male suspect exited a white sedan, approached the victim, and opened fire before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle.
No arrests have been made at this time, and Area One detectives are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Authorities have not released details on a possible motive or whether the incident may have been targeted.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact the Chicago Police Department’s Area One Bureau of Detectives or submit an anonymous tip through CPD’s tip line or Crime Stoppers.