On Monday evening, an alarming shooting incident occurred at a Manhattan office tower located at 345 Park Avenue, which left four people dead, including an off-duty New York City police officer. The assailant, identified as Shane Tamura, 37, from Las Vegas, killed the officer and three others before turning the gun on himself.
According to law enforcement officials, Tamura exited a double-parked BMW while armed with an M4 rifle. Surveillance footage captured him as he entered the building, where he immediately opened fire on Didarul Islam, a 36-year-old police officer who had served in the NYPD for 3.5 years. Islamic, an immigrant from Bangladesh, was married with two young children, and his wife is currently pregnant with their third child.
After shooting the officer, Tamura targeted a woman who attempted to seek cover, continuing to spray the lobby with gunfire. He then proceeded to the elevator bank, shooting a security guard sheltering behind his desk, as well as another unidentified man in the lobby. Upon reaching the 33rd floor, he shot and killed one person in a real estate management firm's office before retreating down a hallway to take his own life.
While Tamura's motive for the attack remains unclear, police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed he had a documented mental health history. Investigators discovered that Tamura's vehicle had traveled from Colorado to New Jersey, arriving in Columbia just hours before the incident took place in New York City. Inside the vehicle, officers found a rifle case, a revolver, magazines, and ammunition.
As of now, the names of the other three victims, along with that of a man who suffered serious injuries and remains in critical condition, have not been disclosed. This act of violence has raised significant concerns amidst a backdrop of a city experiencing historically low gun violence rates.
The shooting occurred in a prime commercial area, a short distance from Grand Central Terminal and the iconic St. Patrick's Cathedral, housing several notable businesses including offices for the NFL, real estate company Rudin, and financial institutions KPMG and Blackstone. It is also known to house the consulate general of Ireland.
Officials are working diligently to piece together the sequence of events and ascertain why this particular location was targeted. The tragic incident represents a serious breach of public safety and has sent shockwaves through the city.