Report: Manhattan Shooter Had Two Pending Background Checks When He Bought Gun Used in Incident

NYC Shooter Had Unresolved Background Checks

A recent report from 8 News Now indicates that the gunman who opened fire in an office building in New York City last month had two unresolved background checks when he acquired the weapon used in the shooting.

Shane Tamura’s background checks were conducted by Nevada’s Contact Firearms Program in March 2022 and October 2024, with both flagged as unresolved. According to the report, this status means that the program “failed to reach a rejection or procedure decision,” as noted by officials.

Under federal law, if a background check remains unresolved for three days, firearms may still be transferred at the discretion of the seller. The program typically takes up to 90 days to make a decision regarding a rejection or proceeding further. It’s noted that around 2-3% of background checks are classified as unresolved, based on information from the Metropolitan Police Department in Las Vegas.

Tamura, detained by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department twice in 2022 and 2024, had incidents involving suicide threats. He received a concealed carry permit in 2022. During one incident, a family member called 911, alleging Tamura threatened to take his life while claiming he had a gun.

In 2024, his mother reached out to emergency services, urging them to perform a health assessment on him at their apartment and to consider legal admission for psychiatric care.

Tamura was arrested twice in 2023 for incidents, including refusing to leave a casino without showing identification. Despite his mental health concerns, it appears he maintained access to concealed carry weapons. He purchased the rifle used in the Manhattan shooting from a supervisor at Horseshoe Las Vegas in October 2024.

In July, Tamura allegedly shot into an office building located at 345 Park Avenue, resulting in multiple fatalities, including police officers. He reportedly targeted the National Football League headquarters and left a note expressing a desire to study his brain.

Though Tamura played high school soccer, there’s no clear indication of a connection to the NFL. Police have also found no evidence to support claims of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition often associated with football players.