NFL Employee Heroically Warned Colleagues Before Midtown Shooting Rampage

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A National Football League (NFL) employee shot in the back during a deadly attack in a Manhattan office tower last week managed to alert colleagues upstairs to the active shooter before calling 911, authorities confirmed. The rapid warning helped others in the building take cover as the gunman continued his rampage through the high-rise.

The suspect, 27-year-old Shane Tamura of Las Vegas, opened fire in the lobby of the 51-story building at 345 Park Avenue, home to the NFL and investment firm Blackstone, killing multiple people before heading to an upper-floor office, where he took his own life. Police believe Tamura was specifically targeting the NFL offices.

New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers responded within four minutes of the first emergency call. In total, 113 calls were placed to 911 during the incident, reflecting the rapid spread of panic throughout the building. One of those calls came from the injured NFL employee, who first contacted coworkers to warn them of the gunman’s presence.

Authorities identified four victims fatally shot during the attack. They include 36-year-old NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, who was off duty and working private security in the lobby; Wesley LePatner, 43, a mother of two; 27-year-old Julia Hyman, an employee of a real estate firm in the building; and security guard Aland Etienne. A fifth person, the unnamed NFL employee who made the warning calls, remains hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators say Tamura began shooting near the building’s entrance before making his way toward the upper floors. After killing multiple victims in the lobby, he rode an elevator to the 33rd floor, where he shot another victim before fatally turning the weapon on himself. It remains unclear how Tamura gained access to the building with a firearm or what specific grievances, if any, he held against the NFL.

Law enforcement sources say Tamura did not appear to have any formal connection to the NFL or any of the other companies operating in the tower. Officials are reviewing his background, travel records, and online activity to determine a motive.

The shooting raises further concerns about building security and soft-target vulnerability in New York City’s commercial districts. While gun violence in the city has generally declined in recent months, high-profile incidents like this have prompted calls for more robust security measures in office buildings that house major institutions and corporate headquarters.

The NFL has not issued a public statement regarding the incident, though sources say security protocols at its New York office are under review. The building remained closed to the public in the days following the attack as investigators processed the crime scene and interviewed witnesses.

The NYPD’s ongoing investigation is focused on retracing Tamura’s steps and understanding what led to the deadly shooting spree in one of Manhattan’s most heavily policed areas.