Autopsy Reveals Brain Disease in New York Gunman Who Killed Bangladeshi Police Officer

Shane Tamura, the gunman who carried out a deadly shooting in Manhattan on July 28, was suffering from a severe brain disease called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), according to the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The attack left four people dead, including Bangladeshi-origin NYPD officer Didarul Islam.

Tamura entered a high-rise near the headquarters of the National Football League (NFL) and opened fire indiscriminately before taking his own life. Police later discovered a three-page note in his pocket, in which he wrote that he had sustained major brain injuries and accused the NFL of concealing the long-term brain damage faced by players while focusing only on profit. In the note, he urged people to study his brain and ended with the words, “I’m sorry.”

Following the discovery, medical examiners conducted a detailed analysis of Tamura’s brain, which confirmed the presence of CTE, a degenerative condition often linked to repeated head trauma. Investigators believe Tamura had originally planned to attack the NFL headquarters, but after entering the wrong elevator, he ended up in the adjacent building, where he launched the fatal assault.

The shooting claimed the lives of four people: NYPD officer Didarul Islam, security guard Alland Etienne, and two women, Julia Hyman and Rudin. The tragedy drew renewed attention to the dangers of untreated brain injuries and their possible connection to acts of violence.