Newly released police experiences and physique digicam footage are shedding mild on the troubled path that led a shooter on a cross-country drive from his house in Las Vegas to the skyscraper in Manhattan the place he killed four people final week earlier than turning the gun on himself.
Records from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reveal a historical past of lingering signs from a concussion and run-ins with police in his hometown, together with mental health-related calls made by his mom and two stints in a mental health facility.
Shane Devon Tamura, 27, stormed into 345 Park Avenue on July 28 armed with an AR-15 model rifle, and carried out town’s deadliest mass taking pictures in 25 years.
While the brand new particulars highlighted questions about whether or not Tamura’s mental health historical past may have prevented him from owning a gun, it’s not clear whether or not his historical past would have triggered Nevada’s red flag law.
Tamura had a license to hold a hid weapon in Nevada that will have exempted him from extra background checks in subsequent years, and specialists say that mental health data may be tough for legislation enforcement officers to acquire.
Here’s what we all know from the released physique digicam footage, 911 calls and police paperwork:
In September 2022, Tamura’s mom, overwhelmed with concern, called 911 from her automotive exterior a Las Vegas motel. Inside, her then-24-year-old son was threatening to take his personal life.
She wasn’t certain if he was armed however knew he owned a handgun and carried a backpack with a holster, she informed the dispatcher.
“I was just inside the apartment with him, and he just started crying and, like, slamming things,” she mentioned. Tamura had informed her he “just can’t take it anymore.”
Too scared to depart however equally afraid to remain as a result of Tamura informed her she was making issues worse, the mom hid in her automotive, hoping he wouldn’t see her.
Tamura suffered from despair, insomnia, migraines and lingering signs from a concussion from a sports activities damage, his mom mentioned.
Las Vegas police responded, submitting an emergency petition to commit Tamura to a mental health facility.
Following the taking pictures in New York, investigators discovered a suicide observe on Tamura by which he claimed he suffered from CTE, a supply mentioned. The mind illness is linked to go trauma, like concussions.
Tamura, a celebrated highschool soccer star, expressed grievances with the NFL in his observe and requested for his mind to be studied for indicators of CTE, the supply mentioned.
Two years after the primary mental health dedication, in August 2024, police were called to his house once more after the same plea from his mom. She reported Tamura had referred to as her crying and expressing suicidal ideas, in line with police logs.
“He was just crying and said, ‘I’m not going to be able to go any further,’” his mom informed a dispatcher.
He struggled with a number of behavioral issues, together with bipolar dysfunction, anxiousness and despair, the mom mentioned.
When an officer arrived on the house, medical responders who have been already there mentioned Tamura had been “calm and cooperative with us.”
At one level, Tamura pointed to a backpack he mentioned contained a gun and the officer informed him, “Don’t touch it – don’t go near it,” the bodycam video reveals.
Tamura was once more dedicated to a mental health facility for therapy.
Video reveals 2024 police encounter with Manhattan shooter
Without additional particulars on the psychiatric holds, it’s unclear whether or not they would have proven up in background checks and prevented Tamura from buying weapons, NCS previously reported.
“If you were on a 48-hour hold, if you were released at the end of that, it would not affect your ability to possess firearms under federal law,” Thomas Chittum, former affiliate deputy director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, mentioned.
The weapon used within the Manhattan taking pictures was legally purchased last year by the gunman’s supervisor on the Vegas on line casino the place he labored, two legislation enforcement officers informed NCS. The supervisor then assembled it and sold it to Tamura for $1,400, the officers mentioned, citing an interview with the supervisor who was cooperating with authorities.
It’s not clear whether or not a background test was concerned, officers say.
In September 2023, Tamura was charged with criminal trespass after being kicked out of a Las Vegas on line casino for refusing to indicate identification when making an attempt to trade his chips for money.
Security officers on the Red Rock Casino described Tamura as an “irate guest,” who refused to indicate his ID as required to money out and grew to become agitated.
In a name to 911, on line casino safety described Tamura as “making a spectacle of himself” and mentioned he gave the impression to be “on something.”
Minutes after on line casino safety referred to as police, Tamura additionally referred to as 911, accusing the on line casino of theft.
“They stole like $6,000 from me,” he informed the operator. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
Police responded and eliminated Tamura from the on line casino in handcuffs, physique digicam video reveals.
He was charged with trespassing, however a court database suggests a district lawyer declined to pursue the case.
In May 2024, Tamura was pulled over for driving a car with no license plates, physique digicam video reveals.
Tamura supplied his license and registration, however officers found that his license had been indefinitely suspended in 2023 because of quite a few site visitors violations. His insurance coverage was legitimate, however his automotive’s registration had expired the month prior.
Tamura was issued a quotation for working an unregistered car and driving with out a legitimate drivers license.
The day after the taking pictures in New York, police executed a search warrant at Tamura’s Las Vegas house.
Investigators eliminated a number of gadgets, together with a bipod for a rifle, an empty Colt gun case, miscellaneous 9mm ammunition and a single rifle cartridge.
Officers additionally discovered a pocket book containing what gave the impression to be a goodbye observe, a number of prescription bottles — some empty, others with tablets — with miscellaneous paperwork, and a car title.