A devastating event occurred in a prominent Midtown skyscraper on Monday evening, resulting in the death of a 36-year-old police officer and three civilians. The perpetrator, a 27-year-old man named Shane Tamura, later committed suicide. Tamura, who had a known history of mental health problems, launched his deadly attack during the evening rush hour in the 44-story building, which houses the headquarters of Blackstone and the NFL.
Tamura began his violent spree in the building’s lobby, with his first victim being Officer Didarul Islam, as confirmed by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Witnesses on the first floor described hearing a series of gunshots, comparing the noise to that of a high-capacity, automatic weapon.
The attacker continued his deadly rampage, fatally shooting a woman who had tried to hide behind a pillar. He then moved to the elevators, shooting a security guard who had taken shelter behind a desk. In an unexpected act of mercy, Tamura spared a woman who came across him as she was leaving an elevator.
Tamura then made his way to the 33rd floor, where the offices of Rudin Management are located, and continued to fire his weapon, killing another person. Another man was injured in the lobby but managed to survive his wounds.
Tamura had traveled to New York from his home state of Nevada. He had entered the city from New Jersey earlier that day and parked near 345 Park Avenue. Disturbing images captured him nonchalantly crossing the building’s plaza with an assault rifle before starting his deadly attack.
Officer Islam was shot in the back and later died from his injuries at a hospital. Three civilians were also fatally shot, while another was injured. After the shooting, Tamura barricaded himself on the 33rd floor of the building, where he was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police recovered Tamura’s weapon, a Palmetto State Armory AR-15 assault rifle stained with blood. A vehicle with Nevada plates registered to Tamura was also discovered at the scene. Tamura had previously worked as a security guard at a Las Vegas casino and had a concealed firearms permit from Las Vegas valid until 2027.
The fallen officer, from the 47th Precinct, had been serving on the force since December 2021. He was working a paid detail for the building’s owner, Rudin Properties, at the time of the shooting. He is survived by his pregnant wife.