NFL headquarters gunman diagnosed with CTE after deadly summer attack
New York medical examiner: Shane Tamura had low-stage chronic traumatic encephalopathy, diagnosed posthumously after four people were killed in July at 345 Park Avenue.
A New York medical examiner ruled Friday that the gunman who killed four people and wounded an NFL employee at the league headquarters in July had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma. The examiners said the evidence showed unambiguous diagnostic signs of low-stage CTE, which, by its nature, can only be diagnosed after death. The finding adds another layer to the case that drew national attention to the NFL’s handling of brain injuries associated with football.
In a three-page note found in his wallet, Shane Tamura, 27, indicated that he believed he had CTE and urged investigators to study his brain. He also accused the NFL of hiding the impact of brain injuries connected to the sport. The note and the medical examiner’s conclusion come as authorities have pieced together Tamura’s path to the attack, which occurred at 345 Park Avenue in Manhattan and left four people dead and a fifth injured before Tamura took his own life.
Tamura, a Las Vegas casino worker, opened fire in the building that houses the NFL’s headquarters as well as several major financial firms. Among those killed were NYPD officer Didarul Islam, Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner, security guard Aland Etienne, and real estate professional Julia Hyman. A colleague in the NFL’s finance department, Craig Clementi, was shot in the back but survived. Authorities said Tamura had traveled across the country with the intention of targeting the NFL office but boarded the wrong elevator.
Police have said Tamura had a history of mental illness. In 2023, he was arrested on a misdemeanor trespassing charge after becoming agitated at being asked for identification at a suburban Las Vegas casino; prosecutors later dismissed the case. The attack prompted the NFL to pursue upgraded security measures at its franchises and offices. A memo reviewed by The Athletic recommended that league and team facilities have armed officers present when people are there, weapon screening for entrants, and updated risk assessments at every facility.
In the wake of the attack, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell spoke publicly about the incident, noting that such acts of senseless violence are hard for the league to understand and that the NFL would continue to bolster protection for employees. The commissioner emphasized vigilance but did not attribute the violence to any single factor, underscoring the broader goal of improving safety across NFL facilities.
The case intersects with long-standing discussions about brain injuries in football. CTE, a disease found in regions of the brain involved in regulating behavior and emotion, has been linked to repeated head trauma from contact sports. The NFL has acknowledged the connection between football and CTE in congressional testimony from 2016 and has since paid more than $1.4 billion to retired players to settle concussion-related claims. Medical researchers say the science around CTE is evolving, and the disease can present a range of physical and cognitive manifestations that vary over time.
The attack and its aftermath have renewed focus on how sports organizations assess risk and protect staff, players, and visitors. Authorities and medical experts continue to study CTE and its potential links to aggression and mental health, while the NFL weighs further security enhancements and prevention measures at its facilities across the country.