Las Vegas man kills four including NYPD officer in NYC office tower shooting

Shane Devon Tamura, 27, drove cross-country before targeting NFL headquarters building

A 27-year-old Las Vegas resident killed four people, including a New York Police Department officer, before taking his own life in a shooting rampage at a Midtown Manhattan office building Monday evening, sending shockwaves through both Nevada and New York communities.

Shane Devon Tamura drove across the country from Las Vegas before opening fire at 345 Park Avenue, a 44-story skyscraper housing the National Football League headquarters and major financial firms including Blackstone and KPMG, according to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

Cross-country journey ends in violence

Investigators traced Tamura’s route from Nevada to New York, revealing he traveled through Colorado on July 26, then Nebraska and Iowa on July 27, before arriving in New Jersey at 4:24 p.m. on Monday. He entered New York City shortly thereafter.

At approximately 6:30 p.m., Tamura exited a black BMW registered in his name and entered the building carrying an M4-style assault rifle. Surveillance footage shows him immediately opening fire in the lobby before taking an elevator to the 33rd floor offices of Rudin Management, where he killed one additional person.

“According to our law enforcement partners in Las Vegas, Mr. Tamura has a documented mental health history,” Commissioner Tisch said at a press conference. “His motives are still under investigation.”

Victims include NYPD officer, NFL employee

The victims included:

• Officer Didarul Islam, 36, an immigrant from Bangladesh who was working off-duty security at the building
• An NFL employee who was seriously injured but survived
• Three civilians (two women and one man)

Officer Islam, who had served with the NYPD for 3½ years, left behind two young sons and a pregnant wife expecting their third child. He was assigned to the 47th Precinct in the Bronx but was working through a program that allows companies to hire uniformed officers for security.

“He was doing the job that we asked him to do,” Tisch said. “He made the ultimate sacrifice, shot in cold blood.”

Las Vegas background raises questions

Documents obtained by news outlets reveal Tamura held both a concealed carry permit issued on June 14 and a private investigator license in Nevada. He had only a minor criminal record—a 2023 misdemeanor for trespassing not amounting to burglary.

CNN law enforcement analyst John Miller noted that with no significant criminal history, Tamura would have easily qualified for licenses in Nevada. “All you have to do is show that you are a resident of the state and that you are not a convicted felon, or subject of an order of protection or restraining order,” Miller explained.

Las Vegas Metro Police squad cars were seen at entrances to a gated neighborhood where Tamura was believed to have lived, as investigators work to understand what motivated the attack.

High school athlete turned casino worker

Former classmates from Southern California, where Tamura attended high school, expressed shock at the news. Caleb Clarke, who played football with Tamura at Grenada Hills Charter School in Los Angeles, described him as a “goofball” and “class clown” with tremendous energy.

“You never would have thought violence was something you’d associate with him,” Clarke told reporters. “Everything he said was a joke. He had a ton of energy.”

Tamura had transferred to Grenada Hills for his senior year in 2015 from a school in Santa Clarita, where he played running back and earned all-conference honors. Despite his athletic success, teammates said he didn’t express ambitions to play college or professional football.

After high school, Tamura moved to Las Vegas where he worked at a casino, according to social media connections with former classmates.

Armed for extended attack

Police found Tamura’s vehicle contained additional weapons and ammunition, suggesting he may have planned an extended assault. Inside the BMW, investigators discovered:

• A rifle case with rounds
• A loaded revolver
• Additional ammunition and magazines
• A backpack
• Prescription medication in Tamura’s name

The NYPD bomb squad cleared the vehicle after checking for explosives.

Chaos in Midtown

The shooting sent workers fleeing from one of Manhattan’s busiest commercial districts during the evening rush hour. Witnesses described scenes reminiscent of a “war zone” as rapid gunfire echoed through the building and people evacuated with hands raised.

Nekeisha Lewis, who was dining nearby when the shooting began, saw glass shattering from the building and helped aid a wounded victim. “There was so much rapid fire and so many people fleeing,” she said.

Questions remain

While Tamura’s mental health history is documented, investigators have not determined why he targeted this particular building or whether he had any connection to its tenants. The presence of an NFL employee among the victims has raised questions given Tamura’s football background, though authorities have not established any link.

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating whether Tamura had any connections to their agency after online rumors prompted inquiries.

This tragic incident marks another case of a Nevada resident involved in out-of-state violence, raising concerns about interstate gun transportation and mental health screening for weapons permits. As both Las Vegas and New York communities mourn the victims, the investigation continues into what drove a promising young athlete from Nevada to commit such a devastating act of violence 2,800 miles from home.

Image Sources: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/mass-shooting-manhattan-skyscraper-leaves-5-dead-including-gunman-2025-07-29/

Category: Local News
Subcategory: Crime & Safety
Date: 07/29/2025