New York Gunman Blamed National Football League for Brain Injury Before Deadly Rampage

A gunman who killed four people before taking his own life in New York had been targeting the National Football League, authorities believe, due to a brain injury he blamed on the sport. The 27-year-old former high school football player was carrying a suicide note claiming he had CTE, a condition caused by repeated blows to the head, which can only be diagnosed after death. As authorities and medical professionals speak out about the dangers of the sport, questions surround the NFL's handling of the issue.

Key Takeaways:

• A 27-year-old gunman killed four people before taking his own life in New York, targeting the National Football League due to a brain injury blamed on the sport.
• The gunman had a suicide note claiming he had CTE, a condition that can only be diagnosed after death.
• The former high school football player had been carrying a note accusing the NFL of concealing the danger of the sport for profit.
• Professor Anne McKee from Boston University School of Medicine says CTE is a major issue in both professional and amateur sports and is a public health concern.
• Authorities believe Shane Tamura, the gunman, had travelled across the country from Las Vegas before entering the building in Manhattan.
• The NYPD officer killed was a hero who died in the line of duty, protecting the city he served.
• The medical examiner will determine if the gunman's brain will be studied to confirm his claim of having CTE.

Statistics:

• 4 people were killed in the rampage, including an NYPD officer with two young sons and a pregnant wife.
• The gunman, Shane Tamura, was 27 years old.
• The gunman was carrying an M4 assault rifle and opened fire in the lobby of a New York skyscraper.
• 1 person was struck and killed on the 33rd floor, where the gunman then directed his fire.
• CTE can only be diagnosed after death.

Sources:

• [New York authorities]
• [Boston University School of Medicine]