In a horrifying incident that shook midtown Manhattan on Monday evening, a gunman armed with an assault-style rifle stormed a high-rise office tower on Park Avenue, killing four people—including an off-duty NYPD officer—before fatally shooting himself.
The attacker, identified as 27-year-old Shane Tamura of Las Vegas, opened fire in the building’s lobby around 6:30 p.m. local time before ascending to the 33rd floor, where the deadly spree continued. The skyscraper houses major firms, including the National Football League (NFL), Blackstone, and KPMG.
Among the victims was Officer Didarul Islam, 36, a Bangladeshi-American and father of two, with a third child on the way. He was working a secondary security detail at the time of the attack. Islam had served with the NYPD for over three years.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch called Islam a “true hero,” adding, “He was doing the job we asked of him. He made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Authorities said three additional victims—a woman and two men—were also fatally shot. A fifth individual remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
According to Tisch, Tamura, who had a known history of mental illness, traveled cross-country from Nevada. Investigators believe he acted alone, though the motive behind the attack remains unclear.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and fear. As shots rang out, people barricaded themselves in offices, using furniture to block doors, while others fled onto the street. Police quickly issued an active shooter alert, locking down the surrounding area.
“He came in spraying bullets,” one witness told reporters. “It was terrifying. Everyone was running for their lives.”
Authorities are now piecing together the gunman’s movements and background as New Yorkers mourn yet another instance of gun violence in the heart of the city.
