Topline
The National Football League’s New York office will be shuttered for at least the next 10 days after it was targeted in a shooting Monday, according to an email sent to employees by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, closing the office to employees after four people were killed by a gunman.
The shooting took place Monday evening. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Key Facts
Goodell told employees in the email to “plan to work remotely at least through the end of next week,” saying the office would remain closed until staffers could safely return.
Monday’s shooting wounded an NFL employee, who was reported to be in stable condition at a nearby hospital.
Goodell said the employee was “seriously injured” and is now recovering, noting the NFL believes all other employees are otherwise safe and accounted for.
The shooter, identified as 27-year-old Shane Tamura, opened fire on people in the building’s lobby, later rode the elevator to the 33rd floor and shot another person before shooting himself in the chest, according to law enforcement.
New York Mayor Eric Adams told reporters the gunman was likely targeting the NFL office but “appeared to have gone to the wrong floor.”
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Why Do Investigators Believe Tamura Was Targeting The Nfl Office?
A note found on Tamura after the shooting claimed he was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition contact sport players and military members are susceptible to through repeated head impacts. One line in the note said, “CTE study my brain please. I’m sorry,” according to NBC News, which reported another line from the note said the NFL “concealed the dangers to our brains to maximize profits.” Tamura was not an NFL player, though he did play football as a running back at Golden Valley High School in California. Authorities said Tamura suffered from mental health issues.
Key Background
Among the four killed in the shooting were 36-year-old police officer Didarul Islam, 44-year-old Blackstone real estate executive Wesley LePatner and 46-year-old Aland Etienne, a security guard. The name of the other victim, who worked for real estate firm Rudin Management, has not been publicly disclosed. The New York Police Department said Tamura could be seen on surveillance footage holding an M4 rifle during the shooting and that he had a “documented mental health history.” Local police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are still investigating the incident, Tamura’s potential motive and his home in Las Vegas.
Further Reading
Blackstone Executive Wesley LePatner Killed In Manhattan Shooting—What We Know About The Victims (Forbes)
Manhattan Shooter Who Killed Four Likely Targeted NFL Offices, Mayor Adams Says (Forbes)