Research My Mind, I’m Sorry

In one sudden, tragic evening, everything changed at 345 Park Avenue—a towering 44-storey building in Manhattan’s busiest commercial district, home to hundreds of employees.

As people working nearby were heading home on that hot July evening, employees inside the building were seen running for their lives, barricading conference rooms with tables, and sending farewell messages to their loved ones.

Jessica Chin, who works on the second floor of the building, told U.S. media:

> "I texted my parents saying I love you."



She added,

> "The feeling at that moment can’t be put into words."



Jessica and others sprang into action after hearing gunshots from the lobby.

The shooting resulted in the deaths of four people, including a New York police officer, individuals in the lobby, and someone on the 33rd floor.

Rampage in Manhattan’s Busy Streets

Just before the attack, around 6:30 p.m., a 27-year-old man arrived in New York after passing through various states including Colorado, Nebraska, and Iowa.

Authorities said Shane Tamura, a resident of Las Vegas, double-parked his black BMW on Park Avenue, close to landmarks like Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Wearing a jacket, buttoned shirt, and glasses, and carrying an automatic rifle, he confidently approached the building, which also houses the National Football League (NFL) headquarters—but he never reached that office.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that as soon as he reached the doors of 345 Park, he opened fire in the lobby.

Initially, he passed by a police officer stationed there, but then turned and shot him.
The 36-year-old officer, Didarul Islam, died on the spot. According to New York Mayor Eric Adams, he left behind two children and a pregnant wife.

Tamura also shot at a woman who was trying to hide behind a pillar, and continued advancing through the lobby.
Wesley Lippitner, an employee of the Blackstone company, was also killed in the attack.

The company said in a statement,

> "Our prayers are with her husband, children, and family."

An NFL employee was also severely injured in the attack.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell informed his staff that Craig Clementi, who worked in the finance department, was just leaving for home when he was shot.
His father-in-law told the New York Daily News that he is now recovering after surgery.

The Wrong Elevator

During the chaos, another security guard tried to shut down the elevator system to prevent further casualties.

Mayor Eric Adams said,

> "But guard Aland Etienne was shot and killed as he tried to hide behind the counter."



The attacker then approached an elevator and waited. A woman exited from it, but he did not harm her.

However, that elevator didn’t take him to the NFL offices.

Because he entered the wrong elevator, he ended up on the 33rd floor—home to the building’s owner, Rudin Management Company.

Emails, Screams, and Pleas for Help

A Blackstone employee told the Wall Street Journal that as the chaos unfolded in the lobby, workers inside the building began sending messages via email and Microsoft Teams, warning others that there was an armed man downstairs.

Ms. Chin told ABC News that she was watching a presentation on the second floor with nearly 150 others when she heard gunfire.

> “Some people exited through the back door. People like us ran toward the conference room,” she said.



A photo circulating on social media shows Blackstone employees piling sofas, tables, and other furniture in front of the door to barricade themselves.

According to ESPN, individuals present in the NFL offices received alerts from the league warning them that shots had been fired inside the building. They were instructed to turn off their phones and remain hidden until police arrived. However, the attacker never made it to his intended destination.

Meanwhile, police forces surrounded the area outside the building.

Nekisha Lewis, who was sitting nearby with a friend, told NBC that she heard the sharp sounds of gunfire coming from the building and saw the attacker behind the glass.

She said that suddenly, a man ran out of the building at high speed and began shouting for help, claiming that he had been shot.

Lewis said,

> “He was running so fast I couldn’t believe it. He had a wound on his back—maybe the bullet had passed through.”



She, along with others, hid behind a wall. While they were waiting, they saw dozens of employees exiting the building with their hands raised above their heads, clearly indicating that they were unarmed.


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“Research My Brain”

Jessica Tisch stated that during this time, Tamura was roaming the 33rd floor, firing as he moved. At one point, he shot another individual.

Then, he turned into a hallway and shot himself in the chest, ending his own life.

Tamura used an AR-15-style rifle for the killings, which he had assembled himself. The lower receiver—also known as the gun frame—had been purchased for him by an acquaintance.

Investigators are still reviewing his travel details from Nevada to New York, tracing how he got from Las Vegas to Manhattan.

A three-page confusing note was found on his body.

In the note, he claimed to be suffering from a brain disease called CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy), which is commonly caused by severe head injuries, like those sustained in military combat or contact sports such as American football.

Officials also confirmed that Tamura had a prior mental health diagnosis.

According to Mayor Adams, Tamura had played football in his youth, though not at a professional level—but he blamed the NFL for his condition.

His letter ended with the words:

> “Research my brain. I’m sorry.”