New York Gunman’s Note Raises Questions About CTE and Mental Health

In a tragic incident on July 28, 2025, Shane Tamura, a 27-year-old gunman from Las Vegas, killed four individuals before taking his own life inside a New York City office building. The shooter was reportedly carrying a handwritten note that requested the examination of his brain for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated head trauma, particularly in contact sports such as football. This event not only highlights the alarming rise in gun violence in the United States but also raises pressing questions about mental health and the potential implications of CTE.

According to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Tamura entered the wrong elevator while attempting to reach the NFL headquarters, where he believed he could address grievances regarding his mental health and alleged brain injuries. The shooting occurred on the 33rd floor of a skyscraper on Park Avenue, resulting in the tragic deaths of New York Police Officer Didarul Islam, security guard Aland Etienne, and two employees of companies within the building, Wesley LePatner of Blackstone and Julia Hyman of Rudin Management.

Tamura’s note, which was three pages long, claimed he was suffering from CTE, potentially from his participation in high school football. It accused the NFL of failing to disclose the dangers associated with brain injuries in contact sports, suggesting a deep-seated grievance against the league. The New York Police Commissioner, Edward Tisch, confirmed the contents of the note, which included the phrase, "Study my brain. I’m sorry."

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a progressive degenerative disease that can only be diagnosed posthumously through an examination of brain tissue. Symptoms may include memory loss, depression, and violent mood swings, often appearing years or decades after the last head trauma. Research from Boston University’s Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center indicates that the disease is characterized by the accumulation of tau protein in specific areas of the brain, differentiating it from other neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.

The NFL has faced scrutiny for its handling of CTE issues, particularly after a 2016 Congressional testimony where the league acknowledged the connection between football and CTE. As of now, over 100 former NFL players have been diagnosed with the disease, leading to significant settlements related to concussion claims that have cost the league more than $1.4 billion.

Experts in mental health and neurodegenerative diseases note that while Tamura played high school football, he was not part of the NFL and may not have exhibited clear symptoms of CTE prior to the shooting. Dr. David Smith, a neurologist at the University of California, San Francisco, stated, "While the relationship between contact sports and CTE is becoming increasingly recognized, diagnosing CTE while the individual is alive remains a challenge. We can only speculate based on symptoms and history."

The victims of this shooting were not just collateral damage; their lives were valued and cherished. Officer Islam, an immigrant from Bangladesh, leaves behind a pregnant wife and two young children. Wesley LePatner was a respected executive at Blackstone, and Julia Hyman had just begun her career after graduating from Cornell University. Their deaths serve as a somber reminder of the risks faced by individuals in high-pressure environments.

In light of this tragedy, mental health advocates are calling for more comprehensive support systems for individuals suffering from mental health issues, particularly those linked to traumatic experiences such as Tamura’s alleged history of brain injury. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) emphasizes the need for increased funding for mental health services and education regarding the signs of mental illness and CTE.

As the investigation continues, the incident has sparked broader discussions about the responsibilities of sports organizations, mental health awareness, and the critical need for systemic changes to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future. The implications of this shooting extend beyond the immediate loss of life; it forces society to confront the intersection of mental health, sports injuries, and gun violence, underscoring the urgent need for a multi-faceted approach to these complex issues.