A lone gunman unleashed carnage at a prestigious Manhattan skyscraper housing the National Football League’s headquarters and major financial institutions, killing four individuals before taking his own life during evening rush hour on Monday, according to The Guardian.
The attack at 345 Park Avenue marks the 254th mass shooting in the United States this year according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines such incidents as those injuring or killing four or more victims excluding the perpetrator.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch detailed the horrifying trajectory of 27-year-old Shane Tamura from Las Vegas, who reportedly drove cross-country to New York with recent stops in Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, and New Jersey.
Surveillance footage captured Tamura exiting a double-parked black BMW on Park Avenue before immediately opening fire in the tower’s lobby. After permitting one woman to exit an elevator unharmed, he ascended to the 33rd floor, occupied by real estate giant Rudin Management Company, where he shot additional victims.
Tamura ultimately died from a self-inflicted assault rifle wound in a stairwell, with police recovering weapons from his vehicle alongside a prescription in his name.
Among the victims was off-duty NYPD officer Didarul Islam, an immigrant from Bangladesh and father of two whose wife is currently pregnant. Mayor Eric Adams paid emotional tribute to the officer, describing him as a “true blue hero” who had been working supplemental security duty.
Authorities confirmed two other men and one woman were killed, while a third man remains in critical condition fighting for his life. Photographs from the chaotic scene depicted evacuees exiting the building with hands raised as emergency services swarmed the Midtown block.
US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries responded to what he termed a “horrific shooting,” publicly stating he was “praying hard” for Officer Islam and urging divine protection over New York City during what he described as a “challenging moment.”
While authorities believe the attack was an isolated incident, the shooting underscores the persistent vulnerability of public spaces despite increased security measures following previous high-profile incidents.
