Gunman with documented mental health history kills NYPD officer, 3 others in Manhattan office shooting
By isabelle // 2025-07-29
Copy
 
  • A gunman armed with an AR-15-style rifle killed four people, including an NYPD officer, in a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper before taking his own life.
  • The shooter, Shane Devon Tamura, had a documented history of mental instability but legally obtained firearms and evaded intervention.
  • Officer Didarul Islam, an immigrant from Bangladesh and a father of two, was shot while working a security detail, leaving behind a pregnant wife.
  • Tamura entered the lobby of 345 Park Avenue, fired indiscriminately, and later killed another victim on the 33rd floor before taking his own life.
  • Critics highlight systemic failures in mental health, as politicians debate solutions while New York mourns the tragic loss.
In a chilling act of violence that has left New York City reeling, a lone gunman armed with an AR-15-style rifle stormed a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper on Monday evening, murdering four people, including an NYPD officer, before turning the weapon on himself. The attack, which unfolded at 345 Park Avenue, a towering symbol of corporate power, has exposed yet again the deadly consequences of unchecked mental illness and the failure of the system to intervene before tragedy strikes. The shooter, identified as Shane Devon Tamura, 27, of Las Vegas, had a documented history of mental instability, according to law enforcement. Yet despite these red flags, he was able to unleash terror in one of America’s busiest business districts. The victims included NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, a 36-year-old Bangladeshi immigrant who leaves behind a pregnant wife and two young children.

A frightening attack

At approximately 6:28 p.m., surveillance footage captured Tamura exiting a black BMW parked illegally on Park Avenue, gripping an M4-style rifle. Without hesitation, he marched into the lobby of 345 Park Avenue—home to financial giants like Blackstone, the NFL, and KPMG—and immediately opened fire. His first target was Officer Islam, who was working a private security detail. The gunman reportedly entered the lobby, where he shot the NYPD officer before shooting a woman trying to take cover behind a pillar and spraying the lobby with gunfire. After the initial carnage, Tamura moved to the elevator bank, where he allowed one woman to exit unharmed before ascending to the 33rd floor. There, he murdered another victim before taking his own life with a gunshot to the chest.

A hero cut down in his prime

Officer Didarul Islam embodied the American dream. An immigrant from Bangladesh, he worked tirelessly to build a life for his family, purchasing a home in the Bronx and serving his community with pride. His death has sent shockwaves through New York’s Bangladeshi community, where he was a mentor and role model. “He was saving lives. He was protecting New Yorkers,” Mayor Eric Adams said in a somber news conference. “He embodies what this city is all about. He’s a true blue New Yorker, not only in a uniform he wore.” Marjanul Karim, a close family friend, remembered Islam as a man who “came as an immigrant, started working as a security guard at a school… He wanted to support his family and be in a better position, and he fell in love with law enforcement.”

A system that failed

While politicians rushed to politicize the tragedy—House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for stricter gun laws—the real issue lies in the glaring failures of mental health intervention. Tamura had a history of instability, yet he was able to legally obtain firearms in Nevada and evade detection as he traversed multiple states. Records show Tamura held a concealed carry permit and a private investigator license in Nevada, despite a prior misdemeanor trespassing charge. His erratic behavior should have raised alarms, yet no system stopped him from embarking on his deadly mission. Neighbors from his childhood in California expressed shock, remembering him as a “typical kid.” Debi Hatfield, a former neighbor, recalled him as “just a little kid following his older brother around. It’s really shocking.” For now, New York mourns. The Bangladeshi community gathers in grief outside Officer Islam’s home, while the city grapples with another senseless act of violence. The only certainty is that without real solutions beyond political grandstanding, such tragedies will repeat. Officer Islam’s legacy, however, will endure. As his friend Karim poignantly noted: “He died a hero… He would always tell my mother, ‘We all have to die one way or another,’ and so I guess this is the way that he left.” Sources for this article include: RT.com NYTimes.com FoxNews.com
Copy