Suicide note accusations confirmed in NFL office massacre

In mid-July, the NFL was shaken by tragedy when a gunman opened fire at its New York offices, killing four people. The shooter, Shane Tamura, left behind a suicide note asking that his brain be examined, as he believed he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) – the disease linked to athletes who sustain repeated head trauma – after playing high school football.

Now the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) has confirmed Tamura’s diagnosis. The gunman who carried out the attack at 345 Park Avenue had chronic traumatic encephalopathy in his brain tissue. According to the medical report, the damage was in the early stages.

“After a thorough evaluation and detailed analysis by our neuropathology experts, the OCME has found unequivocal diagnostic evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, also known as CTE, in the decedent’s brain tissue,” the agency said. “The findings are consistent with early-stage CTE, according to current consensus criteria.”

Symptoms of CTE include impulsive behavior, suicidal thoughts and emotional instability. Tamura had played for Granada Hills Charter’s roster in 2015, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The victims of the shooting were officer Didarul Islam; Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner; Rudin Management executive Julia Hyman; and Aland Etienne, a security guard at the building.

Details of Shane Tamura’s letter

Authorities recovered a three-page letter from Tamura’s pocket after the shooting. In it, he accused the NFL of covering up brain damage in players to maximize profits. At the end, he asked that his brain be studied and offered an apology.

The note also referenced a 2013 PBS Frontline documentary that exposed how the league handled concussions in secrecy. League of Denial: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis featured former players criticizing the NFL for long-term brain injuries.

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