Man Who Killed Four Had Low-Stage CTE, Medical Examiner Confirms

Confirmation of CTE Diagnosis

• 🧠 New York's chief medical examiner has confirmed that the gunman who killed four people in July had low-stage CTE.
• 💡 CTE, or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, is a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head injuries that kill brain cells.
• 🏈 The gunman, Shane Tamura, was a former high school football player, a sport known for frequent head impacts.

Motive and Target

• 🎯 Investigators believe Tamura was specifically targeting the NFL offices located within the Manhattan office building.
• 📝 Tamura left a note expressing his belief that the NFL knowingly concealed the dangers of head injuries to maximize profits, and requested his brain be studied.
• ⚠️ His family reported he suffered from concussions, migraines, and mental illness.

CTE's Role and Limitations

• 📈 The CTE diagnosis provides context for Tamura's actions, explaining his note and his fixation on the NFL.
• ❓ However, doctors state that while CTE can affect mood and increase impulsivity or anger, it does not predetermine violent actions.
• 🎯 The diagnosis explains his target but does not definitively answer what pushed him to open fire.

Life in Las Vegas

• 🏠 Tamura lived in Las Vegas and worked security at a casino on the strip.
• ⚖️ Police records indicate he was placed on psychiatric holds twice in recent years, with officers noting he was armed on both occasions.
• 🔫 Despite this history, he obtained a Nevada concealed carry permit and legally purchased the handgun used in the attack. The rifle was also purchased in Las Vegas.
• 🔍 Investigators are examining evidence from his home, phones, and bank records to understand the extent of his planning in Las Vegas and if anyone was aware of his intentions.