The gunman who killed four people in Manhattan last week had a history of sports-related concussions, according to a 911 call from his mother that was released by Las Vegas police.
Shane Tamura, 27, died by suicide after fatally shooting four individuals in New York City on July 28. The victims included NYPD officer Didarul Islam; Wesley Lepatner, an executive at Blackstone; Julia Hyman, an employee at Rudin Management; and Aland Etienne, a security guard.
On Wednesday, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department released a set of public records related to Tamura, who had previously lived in the city. Among the documents was a 2022 emergency call in which Tamura’s mother reported that her son was suicidal. She explained that Tamura, a former high school football star, had been receiving treatment for mental health issues and brain injuries tied to his athletic past.
“He’s under doctor’s care for depression, concussion — like sports concussions — chronic migraine and insomnia,” she told the dispatcher.
Tamura left behind a suicide note in which he claimed to be suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition linked to repeated head trauma and commonly found in contact sport athletes. Authorities previously confirmed to PEOPLE the contents of the note, which also referenced the NFL. The league’s headquarters is located in the building where the shooting took place.
Tamura appeared to express resentment toward the NFL, blaming the organization for his condition. “Terry Long football gave me CTE and it caused me to drink a gallon of antifreeze,” he wrote, referencing the late NFL player who died by suicide in 2005 and was later diagnosed with CTE. “You can’t go against the NFL, they’ll squash you,” he added.
“Study my brain please,” Tamura urged in his final message.
According to CNN, the attack marks the deadliest mass shooting in New York City in the past 25 years.
