A mentally ill former high school football star from Las Vegas, Shane Tamura, drove across the country to New York City and unleashed a horrifying shooting spree inside a Midtown skyscraper, killing four—including a heroic NYPD officer—before taking his own life in a chilling act of violence that has left the city shaken and desperate for answers.

 

Las Vegas gunman kills four in midtown Manhattan office building shooting |  Fox News

 

New York City was left reeling Monday evening after a terrifying mass shooting unfolded inside a prestigious Midtown office skyscraper.

The gunman, now identified as 27-year-old Shane Devon Tamura of Las Vegas, carried out a calculated and brutal assault at 345 Park Avenue, killing four people—including a decorated NYPD officer—before turning the gun on himself.

The chaos began just before 6:30 p.m., as rush hour traffic clogged the streets near Park Avenue and 51st Street.

Tamura, driving a black BMW with Nevada plates, double-parked outside the high-rise—a 44-story tower that houses offices for Rudin Management, Blackstone, and the NFL’s New York headquarters.

Surveillance footage shows him stepping out with an M4-style AR-15 rifle slung over his shoulder. He entered the building calmly, but within seconds, blood began to spill.

 

Gunman Shane Tamura used Palmetto State Armory AR-15 in massacre at Midtown  skyscraper

 

According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the first victim was 36-year-old Officer Didarul Islam, a four-year veteran of the force who had been working a private security detail at the site. Tamura turned to his right after entering the lobby and shot Islam without warning.

A woman hiding behind a pillar was next. Moments later, a security guard crouched at his desk near the elevator bank was gunned down. Another man was shot and critically wounded as he tried to escape the gunfire.

Despite his horrifying intent, the gunman appeared selective. He allowed one woman to exit an elevator unharmed before proceeding upstairs to the 33rd floor—where the offices of building owner Rudin Properties are located.

There, he roamed the corridors, firing shots until he killed a fourth victim. Tamura then walked down a hallway and fatally shot himself in the chest.

 

Gunman who killed 4 people in Midtown Manhattan identified as former  Granada Hills football star - ABC7 Los Angeles

 

By 7:52 p.m., the NYPD declared the scene “contained” and confirmed that the lone shooter had been “neutralized.”

Inside the skyscraper, blood-streaked floors and spent bullet casings told the story of the terror that had just unfolded. Smears of blood were later found on Tamura’s rifle, a Palmetto State Armory AR-15 equipped with a scope and shoulder sling.

A search of his car revealed more weapons: a loaded revolver, multiple magazines, a rifle case with rounds, and prescription medication bearing his name.

Officials quickly confirmed Tamura had a documented history of mental illness and had worked as a security guard at a Las Vegas casino.

He had failed to show up for his shift the day before and then made a sudden, mysterious drive across the country—passing through Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, and New Jersey—before arriving in Manhattan just hours before the shooting.

 

NYC shooting: Police swarm Las Vegas home of gunman who shot 4 dead after  2-day drive across US - The Mirror US

 

Authorities are still investigating Tamura’s motive. NYPD has not found any direct connection between the shooter and the businesses inside 345 Park Avenue.

“His motive remains unclear,” Tisch said during a late-night briefing. “We are working to understand why he targeted this particular location.”

Some speculate he may have chosen the building randomly, while others wonder if he had a personal vendetta against someone inside.

The building was packed at the time of the shooting. Jessica Chen, an employee attending a presentation on the second floor, described the moment panic erupted:

“We heard multiple shots go off in quick succession from the first floor, and a lot of us just rushed into the room,” she recalled.

Around 150 people scrambled to hide or barricade doors. Workers at Blackstone and other firms blocked entryways with desks, filing cabinets, and conference tables. Many spent over an hour sheltering in place before officers gave the all-clear.

 

Witnesses recount panic during Shane Tamura's deadly rampage inside NYC  skyscraper: 'I texted my parents I love them'

 

Six people were injured in the mayhem—one by gunfire, others from falls and broken glass as they fled in panic. Emergency responders and SWAT teams were on the scene within minutes, evacuating the building floor by floor.

Tamura’s past adds further complexity. Years before, he had been a standout high school athlete—a star running back at Granada Hills Charter High School in California.

In a post-game interview from his teenage years, he appeared soft-spoken and composed, describing his performance modestly.

Former classmates and coaches expressed shock at his transformation. “He wasn’t the type to seek attention,” one former teammate said. “It’s hard to reconcile that quiet kid with what just happened.”

His concealed firearms permit from Las Vegas, still valid through 2027, is now raising questions about gun access laws across state lines, especially for individuals with mental health records.

Critics are already pointing to this incident as another glaring example of systemic failure—where warning signs were not enough to stop a mass tragedy.

 

Las Vegas gunman kills four in midtown Manhattan office building shooting |  Fox News

 

While police continue to analyze his travel path, digital footprint, and possible connections to victims, one fact remains chillingly clear: this was a methodical, premeditated attack. Tamura had the means, the weapons, and the intent—yet no one saw it coming.

In the aftermath, the city mourns Officer Didarul Islam, remembered by colleagues as courageous and kind, a young father who had dreams of rising through the department.

“He died doing what he always did—protecting others,” Commissioner Tisch said through visible emotion. “He ran toward the danger.”

The skyscraper, once a symbol of business power and New York resilience, now stands as the site of a tragedy that has shaken the city to its core.

As the investigation continues and the motive remains a mystery, residents are left to process the painful truth that even in one of the busiest, most secure corners of Manhattan, violence can still arrive unannounced—and leave devastation behind.