On Monday evening, a gunman entered the lobby of a midtown Manhattan building and began firing a rifle, fatally shooting four people, including a New York City police officer, before killing himself, authorities said. A fifth victim was critically wounded but is in stable condition, said New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
The police officer killed in the attack was Didarul Islam, 36, who was working in a private security role at the time and was an immigrant from Bangladesh, Mayor Eric Adams said at a news conference. Officer Islam was married and had two young boys, said Tisch; his wife is pregnant with their third child.
“He made the ultimate sacrifice, shot in cold blood, wearing a uniform that stood for the promise that he made to this city,” said Tisch at the conference. “He died as he lived, a hero.”
One male and one female were brought to Bellevue Hospital and died, and another woman was found dead on the 33rd floor of the building, said the commissioner. The lone shooting survivor, a male, is in critical but stable condition, and was transported to New York Presbyterian Hospital.
“Four other victims being treated for minor injuries sustained in their attempts to flee the scene,” Tisch continued, adding that the names of the civilian victims are being withheld until family notification.
Tisch said that the gunman is believed to be Shane Devon Tamura, a 27-year-old male with a Las Vegas address. Tamura traveled cross-country, leaving Nevada and driving through Colorado on July 26 before entering New York City, said the commissioner. Police searched the gunman’s car and found multiple items including a loaded revolver, a rifle case, and prescription medication. “Inside of that vehicle, officers found a rifle case with rounds, a loaded revolver, ammunition and magazines, a backpack, and medication prescribed to Mr. Tamura,” she said.
The gunman has a documented mental health history, said Tisch. He died after shooting himself in the chest on the 33rd floor, the commissioner confirmed. His motives are currently under investigation.
This is a developing story.
