Gunman Opens Fire in NYC Tower, Kills Five \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A gunman opened fire at a Manhattan office building, killing five people, including an off-duty NYPD officer. The shooter, identified as Shane Tamura of Las Vegas, later took his own life. Authorities are investigating the motive as the city reels from the violence.
Quick Looks
- Five people dead, including off-duty NYPD officer Didarul Islam
- Gunman identified as Shane Tamura, 38, of Las Vegas
- Tamura died by suicide after rampage at 345 Park Avenue
- Incident occurred Monday evening in busy Midtown Manhattan
- Victims include security personnel and office workers
- One critically injured; four others sustained minor injuries
- Shooter had documented mental health history
- Rifle, revolver, and ammo found in his vehicle
- Gunman traveled cross-country to NYC just before the attack
- Building houses tenants like the NFL, KPMG, and Blackstone
- Victims’ families, including Islam’s pregnant wife, left devastated
- NYPD providing private security services in the building
- Authorities still determining motive for the targeted location
Deep Look
A tragic mass shooting unfolded Monday evening in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, where a man carrying a high-powered rifle stormed an office building at 345 Park Avenue, leaving five people dead, including an off-duty NYPD officer, and injuring five more before ending his own life.
The shooter has been identified as Shane Tamura, a resident of Las Vegas, who officials say had a documented history of mental illness. The gunfire erupted just before 6:30 p.m. inside the 45-story commercial tower, home to major corporate tenants like the NFL, KPMG, Rudin Management, and Blackstone.
Among those killed was Officer Didarul Islam, 36, an NYPD officer of Bangladeshi origin who had served the department for three and a half years. Islam, a father of two with a third child on the way, was working as part of a private security detail when he was fatally shot.
“He was doing the job we asked him to do,” said Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “He died as he lived—a hero.”
The Attack Unfolds
According to surveillance footage and police reports, Tamura arrived in a double-parked BMW, carrying an M4-style rifle, and immediately opened fire on Islam at the building’s entrance. A woman trying to seek cover was also shot in the lobby, followed by a rapid burst of gunfire across the ground floor, hitting multiple victims.
Tamura proceeded to the elevator bank where he shot a security guard hiding behind a desk and then another individual in the lobby. Ascending to the 33rd floor, he entered an office belonging to a real estate management firm and fatally shot another person before walking down a hallway and turning the gun on himself.
Police recovered a rifle case, a revolver, several loaded magazines, and additional ammunition from his car, indicating premeditation and preparation.
A Cross-Country Journey
Commissioner Tisch revealed that Tamura had driven across the country in the days leading up to the attack. License plate tracking showed that his vehicle traveled through Colorado (July 26), Nebraska and Iowa (July 27), and entered Columbia, New Jersey at 4:24 p.m. Monday, just hours before the shooting in Manhattan.
No one responded at Tamura’s listed residence in Las Vegas, and his motive for targeting this particular office building remains unclear. “We are still working to understand why he chose this location,” Tisch said.
Mayor Eric Adams confirmed one man remains in critical condition, while four others sustained non-life-threatening injuries while attempting to flee or take cover. He emphasized that investigators are still “unraveling the full sequence of events.”
Chaos Inside the Tower
Inside the building, scenes of panic unfolded. Witnesses described hearing multiple gunshots in quick bursts. Jessica Chen, a worker on the second floor, told ABC News that she was in a presentation when she heard the shots.
“We ran into a conference room and pushed tables against the door,” she said. “We were terrified—I texted my parents to say I love them.”
Emergency services responded swiftly, locking down the block and evacuating occupants from surrounding buildings. Local TV footage showed employees filing out of the skyscraper with their hands raised above their heads.
Finance professionals at a nearby building said they were out grabbing dinner when the panic began. “It was chaos,” said Anna Smith, who returned to her office as people ran from the scene. “We were told to stay inside for two hours.”
A Deeper Context
The building sits at the intersection of high-profile commerce and tourism—a block from St. Patrick’s Cathedral and close to Grand Central Terminal—a location that underscores the boldness and calculated nature of the attack.
Two NYPD officers, including Islam, were reportedly working under the department’s Paid Detail Unit, a program that allows private companies to hire off-duty officers for security work. Tisch said both officers were stationed in different parts of the building when the attack began.
This mass shooting comes at a time when New York City is on pace for its lowest gun violence numbers in decades. Through late July, the city has recorded its fewest murders and gun-related injuries in recent years. Monday’s shooting starkly contrasts with that trend, adding urgency to ongoing national debates over gun access, mental health, and urban security.
Mourning and Moving Forward
The loss of Officer Islam deeply affected both the police force and the city’s Bangladeshi-American community. Mayor Adams offered condolences to Islam’s family, noting that “his courage exemplifies the very best of our city.”
Islam’s death is a painful reminder of the risks faced by officers both on and off duty. His wife, now pregnant with their third child, is receiving support from city agencies and the NYPD.
Meanwhile, federal and local agencies continue piecing together Tamura’s background, travel timeline, and access to firearms. His mental health history is a significant part of the investigation, but officials stress that no definitive motive has been established.
Gunman Opens Fire in Gunman Opens Fire in
You must Register or Login to post a comment.