Shooter Identified in Midtown Manhattan Massacre: Shane Devon Tamura, 27, Behind Attack at Blackstone–NFL Headquarters
NEW YORK, July 29, 2025 — The city remains in mourning after one of the deadliest shootings in recent memory, as law enforcement officials have identified Shane Devon Tamura, 27, of Las Vegas, as the assailant who opened fire inside a Midtown Manhattan office tower Monday evening. The building—located at 345 Park Avenue—houses the headquarters of Blackstone and the National Football League (NFL), making the attack all the more shocking for its high-profile location and devastating outcome.
According to NYPD officials, Tamura entered the building just after 6:30 p.m. heavily armed with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle, identified as a Palmetto State Armory .223-caliber weapon. Within minutes, he began shooting in the lobby, causing chaos as employees, security personnel, and visitors fled in terror. In the immediate aftermath, one NYPD officer working a private security detail and at least four civilians were killed. Tamura later turned the weapon on himself, ending the siege inside a stairwell on the building’s 33rd floor.
Who Was Shane Devon Tamura?
Tamura was originally from Hawaii, but in recent years resided in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he had previously worked as a casino security guard. Records show he once held a private investigator’s license, which had expired, and a valid Nevada concealed carry permit that was active through 2027. At this time, there is no known criminal record or history of severe mental illness tied to Tamura, though investigators are still combing through his personal life, social media activity, and online history.
Former classmates described Tamura as a quiet, sometimes intense individual who played high school football but largely kept to himself. Co-workers from his casino security days noted that he was “disciplined and detail-oriented,” but had recently grown more withdrawn, particularly after leaving his job.
The Shooting: Timeline of a Tragedy
The incident unfolded quickly. Surveillance footage shows Tamura entering the building through a side lobby entrance on Park Avenue. Dressed in dark clothing and carrying his weapon in a duffel bag, he moved through security with minimal resistance. Once inside the main lobby, he opened fire on several civilians and a uniformed NYPD officer, who had been assigned to a private security role through Rudin Management, the building’s owner.
Dozens of workers on site, many from Blackstone, the NFL, and other corporate tenants, reported hearing a rapid succession of gunfire. Some believed it to be construction noise until they saw people fleeing in panic.
Tamura moved up through the building, reportedly accessing at least one tenant floor, where he fired additional rounds. A team of NYPD officers quickly responded and engaged Tamura in a brief exchange of fire before he barricaded himself on the 33rd floor, where he later took his own life. Police found his body in a stairwell, surrounded by spent shell casings and a secondary bag containing additional ammunition.
Victims and Response
The slain NYPD officer, whose identity is being withheld pending family notification, was a decorated veteran of the department’s 47th Precinct and a father-to-be. His death has sparked an outpouring of grief from fellow officers, city officials, and community members. Mayor Eric Adams, visibly shaken at a press conference, called the officer “a hero who paid the ultimate price while protecting others.”
The four civilian victims, all of whom worked in the building, included a Blackstone employee, an NFL media consultant, a facilities manager, and a visitor attending a client meeting. Several others were treated for gunshot wounds, smoke inhalation, and trauma. Emergency services, including FDNY and NYPD, worked through the night to clear and secure the building.
The Investigation & Motive
The investigation into Tamura’s actions and motivations is ongoing. So far, authorities have not identified any specific grievance with the companies housed at 345 Park Avenue, nor any connection to the victims. A search of Tamura’s car, parked in a Midtown garage, revealed more ammunition and personal electronics now under forensic examination.
Federal and local authorities are exploring multiple possibilities, including whether the shooting was ideologically motivated, personal in nature, or the result of untreated psychological issues. The FBI is working alongside NYPD’s Joint Terrorism Task Force to rule out any broader conspiracy.
While Tamura appears to have legally purchased the AR-15-style weapon in Nevada, questions are being raised about how he was able to transport it across state lines and into one of the most security-sensitive districts in New York City. Officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are now involved in tracing the weapon’s origin.
Aftermath: A City in Grief
The tragedy has reignited fierce debate over gun control, mental health support, and security protocols in urban office towers. Though New York City has strict gun laws, incidents like this continue to expose the limits of those protections when weapons can be brought in from other states.
City officials announced increased NYPD presence around major commercial properties, particularly those housing high-profile tenants. Tenants at 345 Park Avenue will continue working remotely for the foreseeable future as the building undergoes forensic analysis and trauma recovery support services are deployed.
Vigils are being planned in Bryant Park and Union Square. A moment of silence was observed at City Hall and at NYPD headquarters earlier today.
A Troubling Symbol
Shane Devon Tamura’s name will now be added to the long and tragic list of gunmen whose actions have torn families apart and shocked communities. While the reasons behind his rampage remain unclear, the consequences are devastatingly apparent.
This act of violence in the heart of Manhattan has once again revealed just how vulnerable even the most fortified spaces can be, and how quickly lives can be shattered by the pull of a trigger.
New York, a city no stranger to tragedy, is once again united in grief—and in its resolve not to allow fear or violence to define its future. But for now, the sorrow is deep, and the questions many.
Anyone with additional information related to the shooter or the incident is urged to contact the NYPD tip line.
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