NEW YORK (1010 WINS/AP) -- Mayor Eric Adams says that a gunman who killed four people at a Midtown Manhattan office building was trying to target the headquarters of the NFL but took the wrong elevator. Four people, including an NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, 36, were killed before the suspect, Shane Tamura, of Nevada, shot and killed himself, police said.
THE LATEST:
3 PM -- Adams calls for national firearms database during WINS interview, says 'thorough investigation' will determine shooter’s motive
Mayor Eric Adams spoke with 1010 WINS reporter Juliet Papa on Tuesday to provide an update on the investigation into Monday’s deadly shooting in Midtown, during which he called for a national firearms database for law enforcement and gun sellers that would flag people who have a history of mental health issues.
“We believe that some form of access should be given to law enforcement, and those who are selling guns to determine if a person is on a list,” he said. “You don’t have to give a diagnosis, but just if they’re on a no-sale list, so we can prevent instances like this from taking place.”
Adams said that the law enforcement community and mayors across the U.S. have been calling for this sort of technology for a long time to help keep guns out of the hands of bad actors.
Two teams of detectives traveled to Las Vegas—where shooter Shane Tamura resided—in the wake of the incident to investigate, Adams said. One team is looking into the origins of the two firearms recovered at the scene, while the other is executing a search warrant at Tamura’s residence.
“To get a history on those firearms: How were they purchased, were they legally allowed to be carried? And so both teams are going for a specific purpose to put every piece of this puzzle together to determine exactly what happened,” the mayor said.
Adams reiterated that Tamura’s motive could be linked to a letter found on his person claiming that he has CTE and was targeting the NFL headquarters, but the mayor stated that investigators are not rushing to a conclusion until all stones are turned.
“We're going to do a thorough investigation to determine is that his actual note, did someone write it for him, all of this is part of a thorough investigation,” he said. “We don't want to give any rush to the decision on what actually happened here.”
As the investigation continues, visible signs of public safety like uniformed officers and invisible efforts like video surveillance and plain clothes undercover cops will be out in full force, the mayor said. He also said the NYPD would continue to be in touch with corporate partners as they continue to focus on business safety.
When asked about fallen officer Didarul Islam, Adams said that his death emphasizes the risks associated with protecting the public.
“It’s a constant reminder that there is no routine day for a law enforcement officer, when he or she wears the uniform,” he said. “Every day brings another set of challenges, and the vigilance that is associated with protecting the public continuously is something that is a constant reminder.”
11:15 AM -- Dignified transfer of officer’s body
Early Tuesday, NYPD Officer Didarul Islam's body was draped in the NYPD flag as it was moved from the hospital to an ambulance, with fellow officers standing at attention.
Meanwhile, a makeshift memorial was forming at 345 Park Ave. Several bunches of flowers were attached to the glass-and-metal railing of a ramp leading to the office building’s front door, along with a yellow balloon with “LOVE ONE ANOTHER!!” written on it.
11 AM -- Hochul urges assault weapons ban
Gov. Kathy Hochul called on lawmakers to restrict the sale of certain semiautomatic rifles commonly called assault weapons.
“We once had a national assault weapons ban. It worked,” Hochul said in a statement on social media Tuesday. “Republicans in Congress must find the courage to pass it again.“
10:30 AM -- Hochul directs flags at half-staff statewide
Gov. Kathy Hochul today directed that flags on all state government buildings be flown at half-staff in honor of NYPD Officer Didarul Islam and the victims of the shooting. Flags will be lowered to half-staff at sunrise July 29th and will remain lowered until all of the victims are laid to rest, according to the governor's office.
“The violence we witnessed at the hands of this individual is sickening, unacceptable and it must stop here,” Hochul said in a statement. “An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us, and we must confront this violence head on. My heart is with our neighbors in Manhattan, the victims and their families — as well as the brave men and women of the NYPD.”
10 AM -- Trump reacts to shooting, 'God Bless New York!'
President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to react to the shooting, writing Tuesday morning: "I have been briefed on the tragic shooting that took place in Manhattan, a place that I know and love. I trust our Law Enforcement Agencies to get to the bottom of why this crazed lunatic committed such a senseless act of violence. My heart is with the families of the four people who were killed, including the NYPD Officer, who made the ultimate sacrifice. God Bless the New York Police Department, and God Bless New York!"
9:30 AM -- Blackstone IDs employee killed in shooting
Blackstone confirmed one of its employees, Wesley LePatner, was among those killed.
“Words cannot express the devastation we feel,” the firm said in a statement. “Wesley was a beloved member of the Blackstone family and will be sorely missed. She was brilliant, passionate, warm, generous, and deeply respected within our firm and beyond.”
A Yale graduate, LePatner was a real estate executive at Blackstone, according to the firm’s website, and spent more than a decade at Goldman Sachs before joining the firm in 2014.
The names of the other victims, along with a man who was seriously wounded and remains in critical condition, have not yet been released.
8:30 AM -- Gunman was targeting the NFL headquarters: Adams
Investigators believe Shane Tamura was trying to get to the NFL offices after shooting several people in the building’s lobby but accidentally entered the wrong set of elevator banks, Adams said in interviews on Tuesday.
Four people, including an off-duty New York City police officer, were killed. Police said Tamura had a history of mental illness, and a rambling note found on his body suggested he had a grievance against the NFL over an unsubstantiated claim that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
“He seemed to have blamed the NFL,” the mayor said. "The NFL headquarters was located in the building, and he mistakenly went up the wrong elevator bank.”
The note claimed he had been suffering from CTE — the degenerative brain disease that has been linked to concussions and other repeated head trauma common in contact sports like football — and said his brain should be studied after he died, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
It also specifically referenced the National Football League, one of the people familiar with the matter said.
The shooting took place at a skyscraper that is home to the headquarters of both the NFL and Blackstone, one of the world’s largest investment firms, as well as other tenants.
Adams said one challenge of the investigation has been that Tamura only arrived in New York shortly before the shooting, leaving few clues in the area.
“We are going to communicate with federal and state partners in Las Vegas to drill down on this as much as possible including looking at his social media pages, anything that he may have in his home, so that we can continue to piece this investigation together,” Adams said.
8 AM -- Flags at half-staff for NYPD officer killed in shooting
Mayor Eric Adams ordered flags at half-staff in the memory of NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, who was killed in Monday evening's shooting.
"As a mark of respect for the memory of NYPD Officer Didarul Islam who died in the line of duty and the multiple victims of the mass shooting in Midtown Manhattan at 345 Park Avenue yesterday, I’ve ordered all flags on all city buildings and stationary flagstaffs throughout the five boroughs to be lowered to half-staff until further notice," Adams wrote on X.
Islam, 36, was an immigrant from Bangladesh who had served as a police officer in New York City for 3 1/2 years, Tisch said at a news conference.
“He was doing the job that we asked him to do. He put himself in harm’s way. He made the ultimate sacrifice,” Tisch said. “He died as he lived. A hero.”