Shane Devon Tamura, the 27-year-old gunman behind Monday’s shooting at the NFL headquarters in New York City, left behind a chilling suicide note blaming chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) for his actions. The former football player from Las Vegas fatally shot himself during a tense standoff after opening fire inside a Manhattan skyscraper housing the league’s offices.
According to CNN, the suicide note read: "Terry Long football gave me CTE, and it caused me to drink a gallon of antifreeze. You can't go against the NFL; they'll squash you. Study my brain, please. I'm sorry. Tell Rick I'm sorry for everything." The message, handwritten over three pages, was later recovered by investigators.
Also Read: 'He went floor by floor': Who was Shane Devon Tamura, the man behind Manhattan bloodbath
Terry Long, a former Pittsburgh Steelers player referenced in the note, was diagnosed with CTE and died by suicide in 2005 after ingesting antifreeze. CTE is a degenerative brain condition often found in athletes exposed to repeated head trauma. Tamura had played competitive football in his youth and reportedly believed he was suffering from the disorder.
Tamura arrived at the 345 Park Avenue building armed with a long rifle and wearing a bulletproof vest. The office tower, located near Grand Central Station and Rockefeller Centre, houses top-tier companies including Blackstone and KPMG. Though the NFL's main offices are on the fifth floor, it remains unclear if Tamura reached or targeted that level.
Around 6:40 p.m., Tamura exchanged gunfire with an NYPD officer in the building’s lobby. He then made his way to the upper floors, where he eventually barricaded himself—possibly on the 32nd floor—before fatally shooting himself on the 33rd floor.
Authorities confirmed Tamura was licensed to carry the weapon in Nevada. His actions triggered a lockdown across the midtown area and added to growing concerns about gun violence in the country.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, the incident marks the 254th mass shooting in the US so far this year.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she had been briefed on the shooting, while NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani wrote on X: "Heartbroken to learn of the horrific shooting in midtown and I am holding the victims, their families, and the NYPD officer... in my thoughts."
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