Manhattan Shooter Bought Rifle and Car from Las Vegas Casino Supervisor, NYPD Confirms
Authorities have confirmed that Shane Tamura, the 27-year-old Manhattan shooter behind this week’s deadly Manhattan office shooting, purchased both the AR-15-style rifle and the BMW he used in the attack from a former supervisor at a Las Vegas casino.
The NYPD revealed on Wednesday that Tamura paid $1,400 for the firearm and vehicle. This update adds new depth to the investigation, which spans multiple states and raises pressing questions about gun access, mental health, and warning signs missed.
Manhattan Shooter’s Background: From Promising Athlete to Tragedy
Tamura, once a standout running back at Granada Hills Charter in California, had shown signs of mental health deterioration in recent years. He experienced two psychiatric incidents in 2022 and 2024, and was arrested for criminal trespass at a Las Vegas casino in 2023.
In handwritten notes discovered in both his Las Vegas apartment and on his person, Tamura referenced CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a brain condition linked to repeated head trauma, which he believed he suffered from due to high school football. He accused the NFL of covering up the disease, and targeted the NFL headquarters in Monday’s attack.
The Midtown Manhattan Shooting
On July 28, Tamura entered 345 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, where he fatally shot four people, including:
- NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, working a second job in security
- Julia Hyman, a Cornell graduate and real estate analyst
- Wesley LePatner, a Blackstone executive
- Aland Etienne, a building security guard
He later died by suicide on-site from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
How He Got the Rifle
While early reports suggested Tamura only acquired gun parts, officials clarified Wednesday that he bought a fully assembled AR-15-style rifle from his former boss at Horseshoe Las Vegas, where he worked in surveillance. The supervisor is cooperating with law enforcement and has not been charged.
NYPD also noted that Tamura wrote a note referencing the supervisor, expressing guilt over the purchase.
Cross-Country Path to Violence
Tamura drove the BMW from Las Vegas to New York in the days leading up to the shooting. Surveillance footage shows him entering Manhattan hours before opening fire in the building lobby and then the 33rd floor.
Police discovered prescription medications and notebooks in Tamura’s apartment, indicating a deteriorating mental state. Authorities are now examining his digital footprint, including laptop and phone records.
Fallout and Community Reaction
New Yorkers continue to grapple with the tragedy. The city is also facing renewed scrutiny over interstate firearm access and how weapons can still be brought in despite New York’s strict gun laws.
Victims’ families are now planning funerals, with mourners gathering at the scene of the shooting, leaving flowers and handwritten notes. The incident also reopened public discourse around mental health, athlete brain injuries, and gun regulation.
Dr. Ann McKee, a leading CTE researcher at Boston University, expressed interest in studying Tamura’s brain. “Our research shows that even high school athletes are at risk,” she said. Tamura had even mentioned McKee in one of his final notes.
What Happens Next
The NYPD and Las Vegas authorities are continuing their joint investigation. So far, no charges have been filed against the rifle’s seller, but prosecutors in both states are reviewing all aspects of the case. Investigators are still working to determine whether Tamura’s mental health record or past behavior should have barred him from firearm ownership.
Do you think current gun laws do enough to prevent weapons from crossing state lines? Share your thoughts below.
More…
