A tragic incident unfolded in a high-end Midtown skyscraper on Monday evening when a 36-year-old police officer and three civilians were fatally shot by a gunman who later took his own life. The assailant, identified as 27-year-old Shane Tamura, stormed the 44-story building, which hosts the headquarters of Blackstone and the NFL, during the evening rush hour.
Tamura, known to have a history of mental health issues, initiated his deadly spree in the building’s lobby. His first victim was Officer Didarul Islam, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Witnesses on the first floor reported hearing a barrage of shots, likening the sound to that of an automatic, high-capacity weapon.
The assailant continued his rampage, fatally shooting a woman who had sought refuge behind a pillar. He then proceeded to the elevators, shooting a security guard who had taken cover behind a desk. In a surprising act of mercy, Tamura spared a woman who encountered him as she exited an elevator.
The gunman then ascended to the 33rd floor, home to Rudin Management offices, where he continued to fire his weapon, killing another individual. Another man was injured in the lobby but survived his injuries.
Tamura had driven to New York from his home state of Nevada. He entered the city from New Jersey earlier that day and parked near 345 Park Avenue. Disturbing images show him casually walking across the building’s plaza with an assault rifle before commencing his deadly assault.
Officer Islam was shot in the back and later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital. Three civilians were also fatally shot, while another was injured. After the shooting, Tamura barricaded himself on the 33rd floor of the building, where he was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police recovered Tamura’s weapon, a blood-smeared Palmetto State Armory AR-15 assault rifle. A vehicle with Nevada plates registered to Tamura was also found at the scene. Tamura had previously worked as a security guard at a Las Vegas casino and had a concealed firearms permit from Las Vegas valid until 2027.
The slain officer, from the 47th Precinct, had been on the force since December 2021. He was working a paid detail for the building’s owner, Rudin Properties, at the time of the shooting. He leaves behind a pregnant wife.