Shane Tamura, a 27-year-old gunman who killed four people in a Manhattan office building, was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease associated with repeated head trauma. The New York City medical examiner’s office confirmed that Tamura, a former high school football player, exhibited “low-stage CTE,” which can only be diagnosed post-mortem.

On July 3, Tamura drove to New York City from Las Vegas armed with an assault-style rifle and targeted the offices of the National Football League (NFL), located in the building. His actions resulted in the deaths of NYPD officer Didarul Islam, finance employee Wesley LePatner, and Julia Hyman from Rudin Management, while NFL employee Craig Clementi was seriously injured.

Authorities found notes at the scene in which Tamura expressed blame towards the NFL for allegedly hiding the effects of CTE and requested that his brain be studied after his death. He reportedly took the wrong elevator, missing the NFL offices altogether. New York City’s chief medical examiner noted the evolving science surrounding CTE, which is linked to symptoms such as memory loss and depression. Police indicated that Tamura had a history of mental health issues.



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