N.Y.C. Shooter, Who Played High School Football, Slammed NFL in Suicide Note and Said He Had Brain Disease CTE

The gunman who opened fire inside a New York City office building on Monday, killing four people, claimed in a suicide note that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head injuries.

The NYPD identified the shooter as 27-year-old Shane Devon Tamura, a former high school football player. In a note found in his pocket, Tamura referenced the National Football League (NFL) and directly blamed football for his deteriorating mental health. “Terry Long football gave me CTE and it caused me to drink a gallon of antifreeze,” he wrote, referencing the former Pittsburgh Steelers player who died by suicide in 2005 and was diagnosed with CTE. “You can’t go against the NFL, they’ll squash you,” he added.

Tamura’s note also contained a chilling final request: “Study my brain please,” followed by, “I’m sorry.”

During a press conference following the shooting, NYPD officials confirmed that Tamura had a documented history of mental illness.

Surveillance footage showed Tamura exiting a double-parked black BMW on Park Avenue, carrying an M4 rifle. He entered the lobby of 345 Park Avenue — home to the NFL and several other corporate offices — and immediately opened fire. His first target was off-duty NYPD officer Didarul Islam, whom he fatally shot. He then turned his weapon on others, killing three more people and injuring at least one, before taking an elevator to the 33rd floor and shooting himself in the chest.

Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch described Tamura as a lone gunman. “There is no active threat to the public,” she said.

Authorities believe Tamura intended to reach the NFL’s headquarters but took the wrong elevator. One NFL employee was seriously injured in the attack. In a memo obtained by CNN, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed the staffer is hospitalized in stable condition and receiving support from the league.

According to the Mayo Clinic, CTE is caused by repeated trauma to the head and is most often seen in athletes and military veterans. Symptoms include memory loss, confusion, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The condition can only be diagnosed posthumously through brain tissue analysis.

Tamura’s suicide note and shooting spree have renewed concerns about the long-term mental health effects of repeated head injuries in contact sports.

The NYPD says the investigation is ongoing, and a formal autopsy — including a brain examination for signs of CTE — will be conducted.