An NFL employee who was injured during a mass shooting last year at a Midtown office has initiated a lawsuit against New York City for $24 million. He argues that the negligence of an off-duty police officer allowed the shooter to enter the building and carry out his attack.
Craig Clementi, employed in the NFL’s finance department, was shot in the back by the shooter, Shane Tamra, in a Park Avenue skyscraper on July 28, 2025.
In a civil lawsuit filed recently in Manhattan Supreme Court, Clementi claims that NYPD Detective Didarul Islam failed to prevent the 27-year-old Tamra from harming himself and killing four others, including Islam, during the horrific incident.
Islam was in uniform working as part of the NYPD’s “paid detail” security program when Tamra entered the building armed. The lawsuit outlines that Islam did not recognize any visible threats, despite the shooter being clearly in view for some time before the violence ensued.
The complaint accuses Islam of not fulfilling his duty to protect those within the building by overlooking the gunman, who was seen carrying an M4 assault rifle across an outdoor plaza.
The details remain somewhat uncertain—whether Islam noticed the shooter before the tragic events unfolded is still unclear.
According to the lawsuit, video evidence suggests that Detective Islam’s inaction allowed the shooter to proceed into the building without any intervention, leaving the occupants unaware of the imminent danger.
At the time of the shooting, Clementi was rather close to Islam, just ten feet away, when he was fired upon and wounded. Despite suffering severe injuries, he managed to escape and call for help.
After being shot, he was taken to a hospital where he underwent surgery and was in intensive care for a period. Clementi’s recovery included a hospital stay of ten days, and he required follow-up care afterwards.
In a document submitted with the lawsuit, Clementi expressed that the physical scars from the injuries have persisted and caused daily pain. He described experiencing significant psychological trauma, including frequent flashbacks that interfere with his routine and work life.
His lawsuit is directed at the city, indicating that even though Detective Islam was technically off-duty, the nature of his work fell within the city’s jurisdiction, potentially holding them responsible.
The arrangement permits private firms to hire off-duty NYPD officers for security tasks, and in light of the shooting, the city might face accountability.
Detective Islam, serving for four years before the incident, has been acknowledged by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch for his service.
Additionally, the family of Julia Heiman, one of the victims, is reportedly planning a lawsuit against the city for $65 million, claiming law enforcement failed to act effectively to prevent the tragedy.
The motive behind Tamra’s shooting remains under scrutiny, with indications suggesting he may have aimed to target the NFL offices before ultimately taking his own life. A suicide note revealed his concerns regarding chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain condition associated with repetitive head injuries.
