NYC High-Rise Shooter Shane Tamura: Ex-LAPD Father Identified, Mental Health Note Found

The chilling echo of gunfire in a prestigious Manhattan high-rise Monday evening left four dead, including a police officer, and a city grappling for answers. Authorities identified the gunman as Shane Tamura, a 27-year-old from Las Vegas, whose actions have cast an intense spotlight on his background and family ties, particularly to a former Los Angeles police officer.

Tamura stormed the lobby of 345 Park Avenue, a building housing major financial firms and the NFL offices, just before 6:30 p.m. armed with an M4 rifle. He opened fire, killing three civilians before moving to the 33rd floor, where he fatally shot an NYPD officer responding to the chaos. Amidst the frantic evacuation, police later found Tamura’s body on the same floor; he had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A suicide note recovered from his pocket cited grievances with the NFL and claimed he suffered from CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy), a brain condition linked to repeated head trauma often found in athletes (CNN, July 30, 2025).

Shane Tamura’s Background and Nevada Ties

Public records and investigative findings paint a picture of a young man with connections to security work and a history in competitive football. Tamura resided in a gated Las Vegas community near Desert Shores with his parents. His Nevada driver’s license, valid until 2027, permitted him to carry a weapon. The black BMW he arrived in, registered in Nevada, contained a rifle case with ammunition, a loaded revolver, and prescription medication. Tamura previously held a Nevada work card as a security guard, last employed at a Las Vegas casino, and possessed an expired private investigator credential from the state’s licensing board (Nevada Private Investigators Licensing Board records). He attended high school in the Los Angeles area, where he played running back and harbored aspirations of joining the NFL.

The Father: Terence Tamura and LAPD History

Intense scrutiny has fallen on Shane Tamura’s father, identified as Terence K. Tamura, aged 63. Publicly available salary and employment records confirm Terence Tamura served as a Police Officer III with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) between approximately 2011 and 2018. Records show he earned a total compensation of $115,580 in 2014, including $102,731 in regular and other pay (California State Controller’s Office Government Compensation data, 2014). Notably, an LAPD booking log from 2008 lists a Terence K. Tamura, employed as a police officer, arrested by the department’s Internal Affairs Division and released on a $5,000 bond; the specific offense was not publicly disclosed in the log. Following his LAPD career, Terence Tamura retired and moved to Las Vegas with his family, purchasing their current home in January 2021 for $383,000.

LAPD Response and Ongoing Investigations

The LAPD acknowledged the media reports linking the shooter to one of their former officers. In a statement released Tuesday, the department said: “The Los Angeles Police Department is aware of the online rumors and media inquiries suggesting a possible connection between the individual involved in the recent New York shooting and our department. We take these matters seriously and are actively investigating the information. At this time, we are working to confirm details and gather the facts.” This statement, issued July 29, 2025, underscores the sensitive nature of the connection as multiple agencies, including the NYPD and FBI, continue their investigation into the motive and events leading to the tragedy. Details about Shane Tamura’s mother remain undisclosed in public records or official statements.

The search for understanding continues as New York mourns. The revelation of Shane Tamura’s documented mental health struggles and his father’s LAPD history adds complex layers to a devastating act of violence that shattered lives in the heart of Manhattan. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the NYPD tip line.

Must Know

1. Who was the gunman in the NYC Park Avenue shooting?
   The gunman was identified as Shane Devon Tamura, a 27-year-old man from Las Vegas, Nevada. He entered 345 Park Avenue on Monday evening armed with an M4 rifle, killing four people before taking his own life.
2. What connection did Shane Tamura’s father have to law enforcement?
   Shane Tamura’s father is Terence K. Tamura. Public records confirm he served as a Police Officer III with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) from approximately 2011 to 2018. The LAPD has acknowledged the reports and stated they are investigating the potential connection.
3. What was found in Shane Tamura’s suicide note?
   According to reports from CNN (July 30, 2025), a suicide note found in Shane Tamura’s pocket expressed grievances against the NFL and stated he suffered from CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy), a degenerative brain disease associated with repeated head trauma. Tamura was a competitive football player in his youth.
4. Where did Shane Tamura live and what was his profession?
   Shane Tamura lived with his parents in a gated community near Desert Shores, Las Vegas. He held a Nevada driver’s license valid for weapon carry until 2027. His most recent known employment was as a security guard at a Las Vegas casino, and he previously held an expired private investigator credential.
5. How did law enforcement respond to the shooting?
   NYPD officers responded immediately to the active shooter situation at 345 Park Avenue. They evacuated the building swiftly. Tamura was encountered on the 33rd floor, where he shot and killed an NYPD officer before taking his own life. The investigation involves the NYPD and FBI.
6. Has the LAPD confirmed Terence Tamura’s employment?
   While publicly available state compensation records list Terence K. Tamura as an LAPD officer during the specified years, the LAPD itself has not yet officially confirmed his specific employment status or connection to the shooter beyond stating they are actively investigating the information circulating in media reports.