Note Found on Manhattan Shooter Shane Tamura Hints at Motive Tied to NFL and CTE

NEW YORK, NY — July 29, 2025 — A chilling note found on the body of 27-year-old Shane Devon Tamura, the gunman responsible for the deadly mass shooting at 345 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan on Monday, July 28, 2025, may provide insight into the motives behind the tragic attack that left four people dead, including an NYPD officer, and several others injured. The note, described by sources as a three-page suicide letter, expressed grievances against the National Football League (NFL) and alleged that Tamura suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma.

According to sources familiar with the investigation, the note was discovered in Tamura’s pocket after he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on the 33rd floor of the office building, which houses major corporate tenants, including the NFL headquarters. The document reportedly contained a reference to former Pittsburgh Steelers player Terry Long, who died by suicide in 2005 after drinking antifreeze and was later diagnosed with CTE.

“Terry Long football gave me CTE and it caused me to drink a gallon of antifreeze,” Tamura wrote, according to a source cited by CNN. “You can’t go against the NFL, they’ll squash you.” The note also included a plea for his brain to be studied, with Tamura writing, “Study my brain please I’m sorry Tell Rick I’m sorry for everything.

”Tamura, a Las Vegas native and former high school football standout, had a documented history of mental health issues, as confirmed by New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Authorities noted that Tamura, who held a valid concealed carry permit in Nevada, drove cross-country from Las Vegas to New York City in the days leading up to the attack, passing through Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, and New Jersey. Surveillance footage captured him entering the building armed with an M4 rifle, opening fire in the lobby, and later on the 33rd floor, where he targeted employees before taking his own life.

The note’s mention of CTE and the NFL suggests that Tamura may have believed his mental health struggles were connected to his time as a competitive football player during his youth. A former running back at Granada Hills Charter School in Los Angeles, Tamura was described by classmates and coaches as a talented and disciplined athlete with a promising future. However, unconfirmed reports speculate that his failure to achieve a professional football career may have contributed to his grievances, though police have not officially confirmed a motive.

The shooting, which occurred around 6:30 p.m. during rush hour, claimed the lives of NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, a 36-year-old father of two with a third child on the way, and three others. An NFL employee was seriously injured and remains in stable condition. The attack, described as the deadliest gun violence incident in New York City in over 25 years, prompted a massive response from law enforcement and a lockdown of the surrounding area.

Investigators are continuing to examine Tamura’s background, digital footprint, and the contents of his vehicle, where they found a rifle case, ammunition magazines, a loaded revolver, and prescribed medication. The note’s reference to CTE and the NFL has raised questions about the long-term effects of head trauma in sports, a topic that has plagued the league in recent years. As the investigation unfolds, authorities are working to piece together the factors that led to this devastating act of violence.