Shooting Incident in New York City Office Tower

A tragic incident occurred in a New York City office tower on Monday, resulting in the loss of four lives, including an off-duty New York City police officer, and leaving a fifth person wounded. The perpetrator, identified as Shane Tamura from Las Vegas, took his own life after the shooting.

The officer who was killed was Didarul Islam, a 36-year-old immigrant from Bangladesh who had served as a police officer in New York City for 3½ years. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described him as a hero, saying, “He died as he lived. A hero.” Islam was married with two young boys, and his wife is pregnant with their third child.

Tamura had a documented mental health history, but the motive behind the shooting is still unknown, according to Tisch. The police are working to understand why he targeted this particular location.

Investigation and Aftermath

Another man was seriously injured and remains in critical condition, Mayor Eric Adams said. Officials are still trying to piece together what happened, with Adams stating that “five innocent people were shot” along with the perpetrator.

Surveillance video showed Tamura exiting a double-parked BMW and carrying an M4 rifle before walking towards the building. He immediately opened fire on the NYPD officer as he entered the building and shot a woman who tried to take cover. He then began “spraying” the lobby with gunfire, according to Tisch.

Tamura made his way to the elevator bank and shot a security guard who was taking cover behind a security desk. He also shot another man in the lobby. The commissioner said that Tamura took the elevator to the 33rd floor, where a real estate management company is located, and shot one person who was killed on the floor.

New York Police officers gather outside New York Presbyterian Weil Cornell Medical Center where a police officer was brought after being shot at a Manhattan office building, Monday, July 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Angelina Katsanis / AP

Eyewitness Accounts

Jessica Chen, who was watching a presentation on the second floor, described hearing multiple shots go off in quick succession from the first floor. She and others ran into a conference room and barricaded tables against the door, fearing for their lives.

Local TV footage showed lines of people evacuating the office building with their hands above their heads. The building includes offices of Blackstone and the consulate general of Ireland.

Some finance workers at an office building down the block were picking up dinner at a corner eatery when they heard a loud noise and saw people running. Anna Smith described the scene as “like a crowd panic” as workers poured back into the finance office building, where they remained for about two hours before being told they could leave.

Location and Emergency Response

The building where the shooting happened is located in a busy area of midtown, a short walk north from Grand Central Terminal and about a block east of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The city’s emergency management alert system warned of traffic delays, road closures, and disruptions to public transportation in the area.

Through late July, New York City is on pace to have its fewest murders and fewest people hurt by gunfire than any year in recent decades.

Conclusion

The shooting incident in the New York City office tower has left the community in shock and mourning. The police are still investigating the motive behind the shooting, and the city is working to provide support to the victims’ families and those affected by the tragedy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who was the perpetrator of the shooting?

A: The perpetrator was identified as Shane Tamura from Las Vegas.

Q: How many people were killed in the shooting?

A: Four people were killed, including an off-duty New York City police officer, and one person was wounded.

Q: What was the motive behind the shooting?

A: The motive is still unknown, but the police are working to understand why Tamura targeted this particular location.

Q: How is the city responding to the tragedy?

A: The city is working to provide support to the victims’ families and those affected by the tragedy, and the police are investigating the incident to determine the cause and prevent similar incidents in the future.