A tragic shooting in Midtown Manhattan left four people dead, including a New York Police Department officer, after a gunman opened fire inside a high-rise office building on Monday evening. The suspect was later shot and killed by law enforcement.
The incident happened just after 6 pm local time at 345 Park Avenue, a well-known building that houses major companies like Blackstone, KPMG, Deutsche Bank, and the NFL headquarters.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch identified the shooter as 27-year-old Shane Tamura from Las Vegas. According to officials, Tamura arrived in a black BMW, entered the building with an M4 rifle, and immediately shot a uniformed NYPD officer.
The officer, 36-year-old Didarul Islam, was stationed in the lobby for security duty. He was originally from Bangladesh and leaves behind two children, with a third on the way. Mayor Eric Adams praised Officer Islam, saying, “He died saving lives and protecting New Yorkers.”
Tamura continued his rampage by shooting a female civilian and a building security guard in the lobby. He then went to the 33rd floor, where he shot and killed another man. One more person was injured in the attack and is now being treated in the hospital. The condition of the injured person has not been shared yet.
Police shot and killed the gunman on the 33rd floor. Investigators are now reviewing CCTV footage and talking to witnesses to understand the motive behind the attack. Due to the location near high-profile offices, the FBI and Homeland Security have also been informed.
In another deadly incident earlier that same day, a shooting in Reno, Nevada, left three people dead and two others critically injured. That attack took place near the valet area of the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino around 7:30 am. The shooter in Reno, an unidentified man, was seriously injured during a shootout with police and is now in custody.
Officials in Reno say it appears the victims were chosen randomly, and the reason behind the shooting is still unknown.
The two shootings happened within 12 hours on opposite sides of the country, once again raising concerns about gun violence in the United States. Mass shootings have become sadly common, leaving families and communities in grief.
In New York, flags are being flown at half-mast to honor Officer Islam and the other victims of the Park Avenue shooting, as the city mourns this tragic loss.
