Las Vegas Authorities Investigate Local Connections to Manhattan Office Building Massacre
Casino Employee’s Cross-Country Journey Ends in Tragedy at NFL Headquarters
Las Vegas law enforcement agencies found themselves at the center of a national investigation Tuesday as they probed multiple properties connected to Shane Devon Tamura, the 27-year-old gunman who killed four people in a Manhattan office building before taking his own life. The tragedy has revealed troubling connections between the Las Vegas casino worker and what appears to be a targeted attack on the National Football League’s headquarters.
The Deadly Manhattan Attack
On Monday evening, July 28, 2025, at approximately 6:28 p.m. EDT, Tamura entered 345 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan carrying an M4 assault rifle equipped with a scope and barrel flashlight. The building houses several major corporations, including investment firm Blackstone and the NFL headquarters, which investigators believe was Tamura’s intended target.
The attack unfolded with devastating efficiency. Tamura immediately opened fire in the lobby, killing off-duty NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, 36, who was working security, and building security guard Aland Etienne, 46. He also shot a woman attempting to take cover behind a pillar before proceeding to the elevators.
In what investigators now believe was a crucial error, Tamura took the wrong elevator bank. Instead of reaching the NFL offices, he arrived at the 33rd floor offices of Rudin Management, where he continued his rampage, killing Julia Hyman, a recent college graduate, and Wesley LePatner, a Blackstone executive. An NFL employee, Craig Clementi from the finance department, was seriously injured but survived.
Tamura then shot himself in the chest, ending the deadliest mass shooting in New York City since the 2000 Wendy’s massacre in Queens.
Las Vegas Investigation Intensifies
Following the identification of Tamura as a Las Vegas resident, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police immediately mobilized to investigate his background and any potential warning signs that might have been missed.
Desert Shores Residence
LVMPD officers first responded to a home in the affluent Desert Shores neighborhood near Lake Mead Boulevard and Rampart Boulevard. Several squad cars were seen at the entrances to the gated community where Tamura was believed to have lived. This upscale area, known for its man-made lakes and golf course views, seemed an unlikely origin point for such violence.
Paradise Road Apartment
On Tuesday, authorities expanded their investigation to a second property—an apartment on Paradise Road. This location proved particularly significant when investigators discovered a second suicide note that mirrored the one found on Tamura’s body in New York. According to sources, this note contained apologies to his parents and similar references to football-related brain injuries.
The Casino Connection
A spokesperson for Horseshoe Las Vegas, located on the Strip, confirmed that Tamura worked as a surveillance department employee at the resort. In a statement, Caesars Entertainment, which owns the property, said: “We can confirm that Shane Devon Tamura was a surveillance department employee at Horseshoe Las Vegas. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by this tragic event. We are cooperating with law enforcement and will not be commenting further.”
The revelation that Tamura worked in casino surveillance—a position requiring attention to detail and the ability to monitor multiple situations simultaneously—adds another layer to investigators’ efforts to understand what led to Monday’s violence.
A Troubled History in Las Vegas
As investigators dug deeper into Tamura’s background, a pattern of concerning behavior emerged:
Red Rock Casino Incident
In September 2023, Tamura was arrested at Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa in west Las Vegas for trespassing. According to the police report obtained by News 3, the incident began when Tamura was playing a table game and refused to show identification. When asked to leave, he walked to the cashier’s cage demanding to collect $5,000 in winnings while still refusing to provide ID.
The situation escalated when Tamura became agitated and reached toward a security officer. An LVMPD sergeant used “an empty hand tactic” to detain him against a wall. Even after being handcuffed and escorted outside, Tamura refused to leave the property, leaning on a patrol vehicle and throwing his ID on the hood. He was ultimately arrested and booked into Clark County Detention Center.
The Clark County District Attorney’s Office dropped the charges two months later, and Tamura was released on his own recognizance.
Mental Health Crisis Holds
Perhaps most concerning were two documented mental health crisis holds in Nevada—one in 2022 and another in 2024. These holds, which allow authorities to detain individuals for up to 72 hours if they’re deemed a danger to themselves or others, suggest Tamura had exhibited troubling behavior before.
In Nevada’s system, officers transport individuals to hospitals where medical staff determine the length of hold. The timing of these holds in relation to other events in Tamura’s life, including when he obtained his concealed carry permit in 2022, remains under investigation.
Gun Show Warning
In June 2025, just a month before the shooting, someone at a Las Vegas gun show called in a tip reporting that Tamura had purchased large amounts of ammunition and an aftermarket trigger. This warning, in retrospect, appears to have been a missed opportunity to intervene.
The CTE Claims and Football Connection
Central to understanding Tamura’s motivations are the suicide notes found both on his body and in his Las Vegas apartment. The three-page note in his pocket contained several disturbing elements:
- Claims that he suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma
- A reference to Terry Long, a former Pittsburgh Steelers player who died by suicide in 2005 after drinking antifreeze and was posthumously diagnosed with CTE
- The statement: “You can’t go against the NFL, they’ll squash you”
- A request that his brain be studied
- Accusations that the NFL concealed dangers to players’ brains to maximize profits
Tamura played high school football in California, transferring to Granada Hills Charter School in Los Angeles for his senior year in 2015. Former teammates described him as a talented running back who some thought might play professionally, though he never advanced beyond high school football.
The New York City Medical Examiner has indicated they will examine Tamura’s brain as part of the autopsy process, potentially providing answers about whether he actually suffered from CTE, which can only be definitively diagnosed posthumously.
The Cross-Country Journey
Investigators have pieced together Tamura’s final journey from Las Vegas to New York:
- Saturday, July 26: Left Las Vegas in his black BMW, which was registered to him in Nevada
- Saturday, July 26: Passed through Colorado
- Sunday, July 27: Traveled through Nebraska and Iowa
- Monday, July 28, 4:24 p.m.: Spotted in Columbia, New Jersey
- Monday, July 28, approximately 6:00 p.m.: Entered New York City
- Monday, July 28, 6:28 p.m.: Began shooting at 345 Park Avenue
The BMW was found to contain additional weapons and ammunition, including a loaded Colt Python .357 caliber revolver (legally purchased with his Nevada concealed carry permit), ammunition, magazines, prescribed medication, and two cellphones.
Legal and Regulatory Questions
Tamura’s ability to legally obtain weapons despite his mental health history raises serious questions:
- He received a concealed carry permit from LVMPD in 2022
- He had previously held a private investigator license through the Nevada Private Investigators Licensing Board (expired)
- The AR-15-style rifle used in the attack was assembled using parts, including a lower receiver purchased by an associate who is now being questioned
Nevada’s gun laws and mental health reporting systems are likely to face scrutiny as investigators examine how someone with documented mental health crises could maintain legal access to firearms.
Community Impact
The revelation that the Manhattan shooter was a Las Vegas resident has sent shockwaves through the local community. The casino industry, which employs hundreds of thousands in the Las Vegas area, faces questions about employee screening and support systems, particularly for those in security-related positions.
For the Desert Shores and Paradise Road neighborhoods where Tamura lived, the connection to such violence is deeply unsettling. These areas, far from the tourist corridors of the Strip, represent the everyday Las Vegas where casino workers and other residents make their homes.
Ongoing Investigation
As of Tuesday evening, the investigation continues on multiple fronts:
- NYPD detectives have arrived in Las Vegas to work with local authorities
- FBI agents are analyzing Tamura’s digital footprint and social media presence
- Mental health professionals are reviewing his treatment history
- Investigators are interviewing friends, family, and coworkers
The discovery of matching suicide notes in both locations suggests premeditation and planning, contradicting any narrative of a spontaneous act of violence.
Looking Forward
This tragedy highlights several critical issues facing both Las Vegas and the nation:
- Mental Health Resources: The gap between identifying individuals in crisis and providing effective long-term treatment
- Workplace Support: The need for employee assistance programs, particularly in high-stress environments
- Gun Access: The challenge of balancing constitutional rights with public safety when individuals show warning signs
- Interstate Coordination: The importance of information sharing between states regarding individuals who may pose risks
As Las Vegas grapples with its connection to this national tragedy, the focus remains on supporting the investigation while learning lessons that might prevent future violence. The city, no stranger to the devastating impact of mass shootings following the 2017 Route 91 Harvest festival attack, once again finds itself examining how warning signs might be better recognized and acted upon.
For now, investigators continue their painstaking work, searching for answers in a Las Vegas apartment, a casino’s employee records, and the troubled mind of a young man whose cross-country journey ended in unspeakable tragedy.
Image Sources: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/nyc-gunman-worked-las-vegas-031405338.html
Category: Local News
Subcategory: Crime & Safety
Date: 07/30/2025
