A licensed private investigator from Las Vegas has been identified as the gunman who killed five people, including an NYPD officer, in a targeted shooting at a Midtown Manhattan office tower on Monday evening before taking his own life.
Shane Devon Tamura, 27, arrived in New York by car and entered 345 Park Avenue around 6:30pm armed with an assault rifle and wearing body armour, according to law enforcement sources. The building houses the headquarters of investment firm Blackstone and the National Football League, amongst other major corporate tenants.
Police believe the attack was premeditated, though no motive has been officially released and authorities have not confirmed whether Tamura had any connection to the building or its occupants.
A Planned Attack
“It appears that he knew it would be his last stand,” CNN chief law enforcement analyst John Miller, a former NYPD deputy commissioner, told the network. “He fully intended to shoot his way through the lobby and make his way to that target – whatever that might have been.”
Tamura carried a concealed weapons permit issued by the Las Vegas Sheriff’s Department, which was found on his body along with other identification. The weapon used in the attack has been identified as a Palmetto State Armory AR-15 rifle.
The shooting began in the building’s lobby, where Tamura opened fire, killing multiple victims including an off-duty NYPD officer who was rushed to hospital but later died from injuries. Four civilians were also killed in the attack, with at least six others injured.
After the initial assault, Tamura made his way to the 33rd floor of the 44-storey building, where he barricaded himself before dying from what sources describe as a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Scene of Chaos
The attack sparked immediate chaos in one of Manhattan’s busiest commercial districts. Workers fled the building as heavily armed police teams swarmed the area, establishing a perimeter that included East 52nd Street between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed at approximately 8pm that the scene had been contained and the “lone shooter” had been “neutralised.” Mayor Eric Adams urged New Yorkers to avoid the area whilst praising first responders for their rapid response.
Witnesses described scenes of terror as the shooting unfolded. Nekeisha Lewis, who was eating dinner in a nearby plaza, heard rapid gunfire and saw glass shattering from the building. She witnessed wounded people fleeing and attempted to help one victim to safety.
“There was so much rapid fire and so many people fleeing,” Lewis told reporters, describing the scene as resembling a “war zone.”
From Football Field to Violence
Details about Tamura’s background paint a picture of a man whose life took a dark turn after showing early promise. Originally from Hawaii, he was once a junior varsity football player who spoke enthusiastically about his team’s victories.
In archived video footage, a young Tamura can be heard giving a post-game interview after scoring several touchdowns for Granada Hills football team. “We were down 10-0, stayed disciplined, came together as a team. Couple of touchdowns,” he said at the time.
However, in recent years, Tamura had relocated to Las Vegas where he obtained his private investigator’s licence and concealed carry permit. Public records show previous addresses in Henderson, Nevada, and Canyon Country, California. He was registered as a non-partisan voter in Nevada.
Investigation Intensifies
Federal authorities quickly joined the investigation, with US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirming that US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton had established a command post to assist local law enforcement. FBI agents were also dispatched to the scene.
Investigators are now conducting an extensive review of Tamura’s digital footprint, examining his car, mobile phone, and computer for clues about his motivation. They are particularly interested in any manifestos, threats, or grievances that might explain why he targeted this specific building.
“Police want to know what brought him to that building, who or what the target was, and what the grievance or motive behind it might have been,” Miller explained. “These cases often involve people who experience a downfall and begin to blame others – bosses, institutions, society at large.”
Corporate Tenants on Alert
The building at 345 Park Avenue is home to several high-profile corporate tenants. Whilst the NFL maintains its headquarters in the building, sources confirmed Tamura was not on the NFL floor and no connection has been established between the shooter and the sports organisation.
Blackstone, the global investment firm that serves as the building’s primary tenant, has not immediately commented on the incident. Financial services firm KPMG, which also has offices in the building, issued a statement saying: “Our hearts go out to the victims of this horrific act and their families. We are incredibly grateful for the bravery of building security and law enforcement.”
Pattern of Violence
Miller emphasised that shooters like Tamura often follow a troubling pattern of quiet deterioration before erupting in violence. “They blame their problems on other people and entities,” he said. “Then they decide to get even – with the world, with everyone – even though the problem usually begins and ends with themselves.”
The attack adds to growing concerns about targeted workplace violence and the challenges of preventing such incidents even in buildings with security measures. The 634-foot skyscraper is one of 41 New York City buildings with its own postcode, highlighting its significance in Manhattan’s commercial landscape.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to verify that Tamura acted alone and that no accomplices helped plan or facilitate his cross-country journey to New York. The shooting has reignited debates about interstate gun regulations and the challenges of tracking individuals who may pose threats across state lines.
The identities of the victims have not been publicly released pending notification of their families. The NYPD officer killed in the attack becomes the latest member of the force to die in the line of duty, adding to the grief of a department that has faced numerous challenges in recent years.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
