Gunman Shane Tamura's second suicide note uncovered in Las Vegas home

Thursday 31 July 2025 - 09:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Gunman Shane Tamura's second suicide note uncovered in Las Vegas home

Shane Tamura, the gunman who fatally shot an NYPD officer and three civilians before taking his own life at a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper, left a second suicide note addressed to his parents in his Las Vegas home, police revealed Wednesday.

The note, recovered from his studio apartment, expressed deep remorse and referenced feelings of disappointment. “When I look into you and dad’s eyes, all I see is disappointment,” he wrote. “I love you, Momma. I’m sorry.” Investigators also discovered a tripod for the assault rifle Tamura used during the attack, a single rifle round, 100 rounds of 9-mm ammunition, and prescription bottles for anti-psychotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-epilepsy medications.

This note differs from the three-page manifesto found in Tamura’s wallet after the shooting, which focused on his belief that he suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a brain injury he blamed on the NFL. Tamura had no verified connection to the NFL, though he played high school football.

Fatal shooting at Park Avenue skyscraper

The violence unfolded Monday evening at 345 Park Avenue. Tamura entered the lobby at around 6:30 p.m., armed with an assault rifle, and opened fire, killing NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, who was working a security detail. He then fatally shot security guard Aland Etienne, 46, and Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner, 43. An NFL employee was critically wounded.

Tamura proceeded to the 33rd floor, where he killed Rudin employee Julia Hyman, 27, before turning the gun on himself. Police suspect he targeted the NFL’s headquarters on the building’s lower floors but mistakenly took the wrong elevator. In total, Tamura fired over 40 rounds during the attack, some victims sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.

Investigation uncovers new details

Las Vegas police determined that Tamura purchased the assault rifle from his supervisor, Rick, at the Horseshoe Hotel and Casino, where Tamura worked as a late-night security guard. Rick legally acquired the weapon before reselling it to Tamura for $1,400. Rick, who declined to comment when contacted by reporters, currently faces no criminal charges.

Authorities are continuing their investigation, awaiting a search warrant to access Tamura’s casino locker, laptop, and cell phone. Investigators are also questioning his family and the two individuals who called him during his cross-country drive to New York City.

CTE and Tamura's claims against the NFL

In his wallet note, Tamura blamed CTE—a brain condition linked to repeated head trauma—for his actions, alleging the NFL concealed the dangers of the condition to prioritize profits. “CTE. Study my brain please,” he wrote. “The league knowingly concealed the dangers to our brains to maximize profits. They failed us.”

However, the NYPD found no evidence connecting Tamura to the NFL. His claims have reignited debates surrounding mental health, gun violence, and the long-term effects of sports-related head injuries.

“This investigation is far from over,” NYPD Chief of Department John Chell said. “We have to go through all of this because it gives us the best information to prevent it next time.”