What is CTE, the brain disease possibly linked to Shane Tamura’s NYC mass shooting? Note requested his brain be examined after death

The 27-year-old gunman, Shane Tamura, who fatally shot an NYPD officer and three others inside a Midtown Manhattan office building Monday evening, July 28, left behind a note that may offer insight into his possible motive, according to law enforcement sources cited by The Post.

According to it, the note references the NFL and symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition often associated with repeated head trauma.

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The mass shooting unfolded at 345 Park Avenue, a high-rise that houses the NFL’s headquarters. Tamura entered the building with an M4 rifle (AR‑15 family), shot multiple people, including a police officer, a security guard, and bystanders, before killing himself on the 33rd floor.

Was CTE a possible motive?

The several-page note recovered from Tamura reportedly cites the NFL as a factor in his mental health struggles. According to a New York Post source, the former high school football player requested that his brain be studied after death, an indication that he suspected he was suffering from CTE.

CTE is a progressive neurodegenerative disease associated with repeated head trauma.

Although it can only be diagnosed posthumously, it has been identified in numerous athletes involved in contact sports such as football. The disease is known to cause memory loss, mood disorders, cognitive decline, and impulsive or aggressive behavior over time.

Tamura, who once showed promise as a running back during his high school football career in California, had a documented history of mental health issues, authorities said.

He was most recently working as a security guard at a Las Vegas casino.

What is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy?

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is caused by repeated head injuries, including concussions and sub-concussive impacts. It has been widely studied in athletes, especially American football players, and is known to develop over years or decades.

Symptoms include:

• Depression and anxiety
  
  
• Memory and attention problems
  
  
• Impulsive behavior
  
  
• Aggression
  
  
• Suicidal thoughts
  

Because it affects mood, cognition, and behavior, CTE has been suspected in several high-profile cases involving former athletes and violent behavior. However, it can only be confirmed through brain tissue analysis after death.