Yesterday, a 27-year-old Nevada man entered a building on 345 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. He was carrying an AR-15 pistol equipped with a stabilizing brace and wearing body armor. His target was the National Football League’s (NFL) main office, but he got on the wrong elevator. He exited on the 33rd floor, where he opened fire, killing five people, including an off-duty New York cop, and injuring six before turning the gun on himself.
The shooter targeted the NFL offices over his grievances with the league’s actions surrounding chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The shooter and former high school football running back believed he suffered from CTE. CTE is due to repeated brain trauma and can lead to mental illness. Athletes who play contact sports such as football or hockey have a high occurrence of medical conditions associated with brain injury. The NFL has been accused of covering up the dangers of brain trauma in the past, which could have played into the shooter’s psychosis. Sport leagues have established specific concussion protocols in recent years to help prevent brain injuries such as CTE after much public outcry.
The shooter shot himself in the chest after killing the victims. According to a note that was found on the shooter, the shot placement was intentional to leave his brain intact so it could be “studied.” CTE cannot be diagnosed while a patient is alive. Only after the sufferer has died can it be detected because the brain must be cut into to see the encephalitis. There are currently no medical scans that can detect CTE. Doctors use medical signs to treat suspected cases of chronic brain injury, but cannot make a definitive diagnosis.
NYC shooter Shane Tamura thanked a CTE documentary and listed names of prominent neuroscientists in apparent suicide note: sources https://t.co/NMRkSoYovQ pic.twitter.com/2QzKhpAng9
— New York Post (@nypost) July 29, 2025
Past NFL superstars have been diagnosed with the disease, including the former New England Patriots tight end and murderer Aaron Hernandez. Mr. Hernadez was an all-star player, but murdered his girlfriend’s sister’s fiancée. He would be sent to prison, where he would commit suicide. After his death, it was determined he suffered from CTE. Many Americans suffer from CTE but never commit an act of violence. CTE can play a role in violent tendencies, but it usually isn’t the only factor.
After the shooting and images were leaked to the public, CNN called the shooter a “white male.” The picture clearly showed that the shooter was black. Many used this mistake to highlight other CNN statements, like when the network reported Donald Trump fell on stage at a campaign event when he was shot, or called the protest after the death of George Floyd “mostly peaceful” as cars burned in the background of the news report.
“They do know what he looks like. Male, possibly white, mustache, sunglasses.”
CNN’s Erin Burnett claims the active shooter in New York City is a “possibly white” male. pic.twitter.com/1qlOoRBAEx
— Thomas Hern (@ThomasMHern) July 28, 2025
Early reports also claimed the gun was equipped with a suppressor. Those rumors were false. They started when a picture was released from a security camera. The picture was low quality and made the sling appear to be a suppressor. Follow-up pictures were reviewed. The firearm did not have a suppressor.
Still, anti-gun zealots did take the opportunity to exploit the tragedy, including Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts, who called for a ban on all semi-automatic guns.
Security cam footage of the shooter earlier today in Manhattan.
Seems he wasn’t too concerned with following their “common sense” gun laws…#CityLife #manhattan #newyork #urban #decay pic.twitter.com/mex3qCBy4f
— Mrgunsngear (@Mrgunsngear) July 28, 2025
New York City has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. The firearm used in the shooting is illegal to have in the state, yet the murderer chose to violate the law. He also carried a 30-round magazine, which is also prohibited in the Empire State. The shooter had a Nevada concealed carry permit, which means he could pass a background check, highlighting the ineffectiveness of background checks. Many view these as examples of how gun control fails to keep people safe.
Law-abiding citizens were disarmed in the city, preventing them from defending themselves from this senseless attack. Just days earlier, at a Michigan Walmart, Marine Corps veteran Derrick Perry pulled his concealed handgun to stop a mass stabbing, possibly saving many lives.
Citizens of New York City do not have the advantage of being able to defend themselves. Even though New York does issue concealed carry permits, the laws make it difficult to acquire one and prohibit the carrying of a gun in many places. These laws only affect those who obey the law. Murderers by their nature do not.
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About John Crump
Mr. Crump is an NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people from all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons, follow him on X at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.
