Shane D Tamura, the suspected gunman who killed four people, including an NYPD officer, in his shooting spree at 345 Park Ave in midtown Manhattan, appears to have left behind a final note. The alleged New York shooter’s body was found on the 33rd floor of the 44-story building after he fatally shot himself in the chest.
Sources have since spilled to the New York Post that he had a note at the time of his onslaught that may direct authorities to a potential motive behind the harrowing tragedy on Monday. The 27-year-old targeted the very building that houses the NFL office. Social media was already speculating whether a football-related reason led the Las Vegas resident to launch his deadly rampage this week, especially since he was a former football player in his own right.
NFL cited in NYC shooter’s final note: Mental health problem, football intertwined?
Having been a star player during his school years, Tamura now appears to have mentioned the National Football League in the note discovered after his weapon, the massive M4 assault rifle, was found right next to his body.
In his final message, which consumes several pages, the former athlete blamed the sport for his apparent struggle with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Additionally, sources divulged that Shane Tamura even asked for his brain to be studied. As quoted by CNN, the 27-year-old’s chilling note name-drops former Pittsburgh Steeler Terry Long, who died by suicide after drinking antifreeze in 2006. He too suffered from CTE.
“Terry Long football gave me CTE and it caused me to drink a gallon of antifreeze,” the deceased gunman wrote. “You can’t go against the NFL, they’ll squash you.” He added, “Study my brain please I’m sorry Tell Rick I’m sorry for everything.”
During a Monday press briefing, NYC Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch disclosed Tamura had a “documented mental health history.”
What is CTE? It is a progressive neurogenerative disease caused by repeated head injuries. The medical state is said to only get worse over time. “The only way to definitively diagnosis CTE is after death during an autopsy of the brain,” states Mayo Clinic, which lists trouble with thinking and emotions as its prime symptoms. Those grappling with the disease may exhibit behavioural changes like impulsiveness and aggression.
Shane D Tamura’s football history explored
Tamura was no longer connected to football in his last days as he worked as a security guard at a Las Vegas casino, as per The Post. However, he emerged as a star player during his senior year, having stepped in as a running back for the Granada Hills Charter football team.
Walter Roby, who was head coach at the Los Angeles school at the time, described Shane as being “very quiet,” and called him a “hard worker.” He noted that regardless of what he was asked to do as part of his coaching, he would do it. “He led by, you know, his actions on the field. He was our… one of my top offensive players at the time,” he told FOX 11.
A resurfaced video – now gone viral – Jack Pollon of Los Angeles Daily News can be heard interviewing the former standout football player after his school team won 35-31 against Kennedy High School. Back then, the journalist even highlighted how Tamura’s efforts carried Granada Hills to the victory line. “Shane Tamura 69-yard td jailbreak screen pass and granada hills leads kennedy 35-24 with 3:42 to go,” Pollon tweeted on September 19, 2015 (IST).
He even won six Player of the Game awards during his senior year. Before transferring to Granada, Tamura played at Golden Valley High School in Santa Clarita.
This is a breaking story. More Information will be added soon…